Compare towns
Bristol vs Glocester vs Smithfield vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k median).
Glocester has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Smithfield has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bristol | Glocester | Smithfield | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,220 |
10,221Lowest |
22,233Highest |
11,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+2.3% RI: +4.3% |
+3.2% RI: +4.3% |
+5.1%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 43±2.2 6% above RI |
50.8±4.3Highest 25% above RI |
41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average |
49±2.9 21% above RI |
| Glocester and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±1.9Lowest RI: 18.8% |
19.8%±4.3Highest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
14%±2.2 RI: 18.8% |
| Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2 RI: 18.7% |
22.2%±3.4 RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
25%±3.5Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Warren and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Highest RI: 37.7% |
35.7%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
40% RI: 37.7% |
36.4% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.3%±1.9 RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9 RI: 8.3% |
4.1%±1.5Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Bristol and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,764±$8k 11% above RI |
$113,508±$7kHighest 29% above RI |
$102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
$90,729±$12kLowest 3% above RI |
| Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,000±$25kHighest 20% above RI |
$396,500±$28k about the RI average |
$446,400±$12k 10% above RI |
$395,700±$22kLowest about the RI average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,579±$118Highest 18% above RI |
$1,417±$627 6% above RI |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,363±$96 about the RI average |
| Bristol and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,393 10% above RI |
$5,248 7% above RI |
$5,207Lowest 6% above RI |
$5,474Highest 12% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.1Lowest RI: 48% |
64.5%±24Highest RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7 RI: 48% |
54.6%±9.4 RI: 48% |
| Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
6.2% RI: 11.2% |
9.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% RI: 63.6% |
91%Highest RI: 63.6% |
81.6% RI: 63.6% |
61.3%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 2 yrs newer than RI |
1975 13 yrs newer than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
1950Lowest 12 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the RI average |
34 minHighest 35% above RI |
25 minLowest 4% below RI |
25 min about the RI average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±2.7Lowest RI: 13% |
13.1%±4.7 RI: 13% |
14%±3.1 RI: 13% |
14.4%±3.3Highest RI: 13% |
| Warren and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 38 in RI | #12 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI | #31 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Bristol Warren | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Smithfield | Highlander · Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Mt. Hope High School | Ponaganset High School | Smithfield High School | Highlander Secondary Charter S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
12.8 |
11.8Lowest |
15.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.