Compare towns
Glocester vs Danvers 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 oldest population (median age 50.8).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Danvers | Smithfield | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,221 |
28,098Highest |
22,233 |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Foster 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% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest 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% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers 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% |
48.4%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% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Foster 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. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
| Danvers 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. |
$6,654 113% 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% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest 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% |
4.8% 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% |
69.2%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. |
1963Lowest 17 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. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | — | Smithfield | Foster |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | — | Smithfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.