Compare towns

Glocester vs Blackstone 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).
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
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.

MeasureGlocesterBlackstoneSmithfield
People
Population
10,221
9,255Lowest
22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
43.2±1.7
11% above U.S.
41.8±2.6Lowest
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Blackstone 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%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,508±$7kHighest
41% above U.S.
$94,191±$21kLowest
17% 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.
$404,400±$34k
22% above U.S.
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
Smithfield and Blackstone 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
$1,189±$85
16% below U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
Glocester and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,248
68% above U.S.
$5,703Highest
83% above U.S.
$5,207Lowest
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±24
U.S.: 51.1%
65%±18.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Blackstone and Glocester 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%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
34 min
28% above U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Blackstone 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 #207 of 282 in MA #8 of 38 in RI
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester Blackstone-Millville Smithfield
High school in town Ponaganset High School Blackstone Millville RHS Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
13.6Highest
11.8Lowest
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.