Compare towns
Foster vs Glocester vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Foster has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Foster | Glocester | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523Lowest |
10,221 |
22,233Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+2.3% RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 47.1±3 16% above RI |
50.8±4.3Highest 25% above RI |
41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average |
| Glocester and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 RI: 18.8% |
19.8%±4.3Highest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Glocester and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
22.2%±3.4Highest RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
| 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+ | 36.9% RI: 37.7% |
35.7%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
40%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2Lowest RI: 8.3% |
4.3%±1.9 RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,646±$18kHighest 29% above RI |
$113,508±$7k 29% above RI |
$102,077±$8kLowest 16% above RI |
| Foster and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$30k 5% above RI |
$396,500±$28kLowest about the RI average |
$446,400±$12kHighest 10% above RI |
| Smithfield and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Highest 12% above RI |
$1,417±$627 6% above RI |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
| Foster and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,135Highest 46% above RI |
$5,248 7% above RI |
$5,207Lowest 6% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest RI: 48% |
64.5%±24 RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7Lowest RI: 48% |
| Foster and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
4.8% RI: 11.2% |
6.2%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest RI: 63.6% |
91% RI: 63.6% |
81.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 13 yrs newer than RI |
1975Lowest 13 yrs newer than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 30% above RI |
34 minHighest 35% above RI |
25 minLowest 4% below RI |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Highest RI: 13% |
13.1%±4.7Lowest RI: 13% |
14%±3.1 RI: 13% |
| Foster 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 | #22 of 38 in RI | #12 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Smithfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Ponaganset High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.