Compare towns
Glocester vs Exeter vs Sturbridge 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).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Exeter | Sturbridge | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,221 |
7,195Lowest |
9,960 |
22,233Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 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% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Smithfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Glocester and Exeter 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. |
$5,881 89% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Exeter 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #89 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Exeter-West Greenwich | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
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.