Compare towns
Glocester vs Bloomfield vs Smithfield vs Foster
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 most kids (19.8% under 18).
Bloomfield has the most affordable homes ($287k median).
Smithfield has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Foster has the most homeowners (91.4%).
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 | Bloomfield | Smithfield | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,221 |
21,754 |
22,233Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.4±3.3 24% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Glocester and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bloomfield and Glocester 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% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$98,725±$14kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Foster and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$286,900±$11kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$1,881±$175Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
| Bloomfield and Foster 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. |
$5,795 86% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±11.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bloomfield and Foster 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 | #139 of 149 in CT | #8 of 38 in RI | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Smithfield | Foster |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | Academy of International Studies 6-12 | Smithfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.1Lowest |
11.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.