Compare towns

Glocester vs Chaplin vs Scituate 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 most kids (19.8% under 18).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Scituate has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
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.

MeasureGlocesterChaplinScituateSmithfield
People
Population
10,221
2,070Lowest
10,517
22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
43.7±4.8
12% above U.S.
49.9±4
28% above U.S.
41.8±2.6Lowest
7% above U.S.
Glocester and Scituate 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%
15.7%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
14.9%±3.3Lowest
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+
22.2%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Scituate 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
25.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
10.1%±6.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.7Lowest
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
$113,508±$7kHighest
41% above U.S.
$97,846±$14kLowest
21% above U.S.
$112,315±$23k
39% above U.S.
$102,077±$8k
26% above U.S.
Glocester and Scituate 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.
$255,200±$24kLowest
23% below U.S.
$449,300±$26kHighest
35% above U.S.
$446,400±$12k
34% above U.S.
Scituate and Smithfield 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
$1,473±$275
4% above U.S.
$1,489±$251Highest
5% above U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
Scituate and Chaplin 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.
$4,524Lowest
45% above U.S.
$5,265Highest
69% above U.S.
$5,207
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.6%±27.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59.6%±25.9
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Glocester and Scituate 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%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
32 min
23% above U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±10Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±5.1
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 — #17 of 38 in RI #8 of 38 in RI
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Scituate Smithfield
High school in town Ponaganset High School Parish Hill High School Scituate High School Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
7.5Lowest
10.8
11.8
On TownTapestry
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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.