Compare towns
Glocester vs Lawrence 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).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
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 | Lawrence | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,221Lowest |
88,736Highest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest 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% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Smithfield 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. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Lawrence 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 |
$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Lawrence and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,248Highest 68% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Glocester 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Lawrence | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | Lawrence High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.6Highest |
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.