Compare towns

Glocester vs Exeter vs Upton 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 affordable homes ($397k median).
Exeter has the youngest population (median age 37.7).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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.

MeasureGlocesterExeterUptonSmithfield
People
Population
10,221
7,195Lowest
8,189
22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%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.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
Glocester and Upton 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%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Upton 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%
20.7%±4.9
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%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
11.1%±6.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
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.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$102,077±$8kLowest
26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$396,500±$28kLowest
19% above U.S.
$509,200±$43k
53% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$446,400±$12k
34% above U.S.
Upton and Exeter 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
$1,317±$307
7% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,016±$241
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.
$8,376Highest
169% 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%
52.8%±31Lowest
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%
3.2%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%
86.7%
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.
1981
1 yr 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.
35 minHighest
34% 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%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton 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 #46 of 282 in MA #8 of 38 in RI
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester Exeter-West Greenwich Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Smithfield
High school in town Ponaganset High School None in town Blackstone Valley Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
—
11.2Lowest
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.