Compare towns
Glocester vs Ayer 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
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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.
| Measure | Glocester | Ayer | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,221 |
8,645Lowest |
22,233Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% 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 | $396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Glocester and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,248Highest 68% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest 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 | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Ayer Shirley School District | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.5Lowest |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.