Compare towns
Glocester vs Halifax 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).
Halifax has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Glocester | Halifax | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,221 |
7,748Lowest |
22,233Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Halifax 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% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax 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% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest 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% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Halifax 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±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| Halifax 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 |
$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Halifax and Glocester 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. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester and Smithfield 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Halifax | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | None in town | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.