Compare towns

Glocester vs Killingly vs Foster 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).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Foster has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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.

MeasureGlocesterKillinglyFosterSmithfield
People
Population
10,221
17,867
4,523Lowest
22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
47.1±3
21% above U.S.
41.8±2.6
7% 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%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
22.2%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.2Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,508±$7k
41% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$113,646±$18kHighest
41% above U.S.
$102,077±$8k
26% above U.S.
Foster 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±$28k
19% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$425,300±$30k
28% above U.S.
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
Smithfield and Foster 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
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,509±$556Highest
7% above U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
Foster 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.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$7,135Highest
129% above U.S.
$5,207
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±24
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
65.8%±25.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7
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%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
33 min
26% above U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Foster 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 #136 of 149 in CT #22 of 38 in RI #8 of 38 in RI
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Foster Smithfield
High school in town Ponaganset High School Killingly High School None in town Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
11.1Lowest
—
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.