Compare towns

Glocester vs Jamestown vs Smithfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Glocester has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Jamestown has the most expensive homes ($842k median).
Smithfield has the youngest population (median age 41.8).

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.

MeasureGlocesterJamestownSmithfield
People
Population
10,221
5,534Lowest
22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
+2.8%
RI: +4.3%
+3.2%Highest
RI: +4.3%
Median age
50.8±4.3
25% above RI
58.2±2.6Highest
43% above RI
41.8±2.6Lowest
about the RI average
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.3Highest
RI: 18.8%
14.9%±4.1Lowest
RI: 18.8%
16.9%±2.4
RI: 18.8%
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
RI: 18.7%
38.4%±7Highest
RI: 18.7%
21.1%±2.1Lowest
RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.7%Lowest
RI: 37.7%
69.1%Highest
RI: 37.7%
40%
RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
RI: 8.3%
2.2%±1.4Lowest
RI: 8.3%
16.7%±0.9Highest
RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,508±$7k
29% above RI
$140,625±$42kHighest
60% above RI
$102,077±$8kLowest
16% above RI
Jamestown 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
about the RI average
$842,400±$59kHighest
108% above RI
$446,400±$12k
10% above RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,417±$627
6% above RI
$1,629±$916Highest
21% above RI
$1,016±$241Lowest
24% below RI
Jamestown and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,248Highest
7% above RI
$5,047Lowest
3% above RI
$5,207
6% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±24Highest
RI: 48%
50.7%±27.8Lowest
RI: 48%
57.1%±17.7
RI: 48%
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%
RI: 11.2%
3.5%Lowest
RI: 11.2%
6.2%Highest
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%Highest
RI: 63.6%
85.8%
RI: 63.6%
81.6%Lowest
RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
13 yrs newer than RI
1975Lowest
13 yrs newer than RI
1976Highest
14 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
35% above RI
26 min
about the RI average
25 minLowest
4% below RI
Work from home
13.1%±4.7Lowest
RI: 13%
20.6%±7.2Highest
RI: 13%
14%±3.1
RI: 13%
Jamestown 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 #2 of 38 in RI #8 of 38 in RI
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester Jamestown 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

RI 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.