Compare towns
Glocester vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,221 |
8,606Lowest |
22,233Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Glocester and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 38 in RI | #145 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Nashoba | 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.