Compare towns

Chaplin vs Glocester vs Smithfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Glocester has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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.

MeasureChaplinGlocesterSmithfield
People
Population
2,070Lowest
10,221
22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±4.8
12% above U.S.
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
41.8±2.6Lowest
7% above U.S.
Glocester and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.7%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.2%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Smithfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,846±$14kLowest
21% above U.S.
$113,508±$7kHighest
41% above U.S.
$102,077±$8k
26% above U.S.
Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$255,200±$24kLowest
23% below U.S.
$396,500±$28k
19% above U.S.
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,473±$275Highest
4% above U.S.
$1,417±$627
about the U.S. average
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
Chaplin and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,524Lowest
45% above U.S.
$5,248Highest
68% above U.S.
$5,207
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.5%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
23% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±10Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Chaplin 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 — #12 of 38 in RI #8 of 38 in RI
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Foster-Glocester · Glocester Smithfield
High school in town Parish Hill High School Ponaganset High School Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.5Lowest
12.8Highest
11.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.