Compare towns

Glocester vs Lincoln 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 oldest population (median age 50.8).
Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (14%).

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.

MeasureGlocesterLincolnSmithfield
People
Population
10,221Lowest
22,864Highest
22,233
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
+6.7%Highest
RI: +4.3%
+3.2%
RI: +4.3%
Median age
50.8±4.3Highest
25% above RI
43.7±2.2
8% above RI
41.8±2.6Lowest
about the RI average
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.3
RI: 18.8%
21.5%±3Highest
RI: 18.8%
16.9%±2.4Lowest
RI: 18.8%
Lincoln and Glocester 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%
24%±2.7Highest
RI: 18.7%
21.1%±2.1Lowest
RI: 18.7%
Lincoln and Glocester 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
RI: 37.7%
45.9%Highest
RI: 37.7%
40%
RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9Lowest
RI: 8.3%
5.8%±1.8
RI: 8.3%
16.7%±0.9Highest
RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,508±$7kHighest
29% above RI
$104,821±$15k
19% above RI
$102,077±$8kLowest
16% above RI
Glocester and Lincoln 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
$450,600±$17kHighest
11% above RI
$446,400±$12k
10% above RI
Lincoln 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
6% above RI
$1,468±$152Highest
9% above RI
$1,016±$241Lowest
24% below RI
Lincoln 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
$4,751Lowest
3% below RI
$5,207
6% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±24Highest
RI: 48%
40.4%±9.8Lowest
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%Lowest
RI: 11.2%
7.4%Highest
RI: 11.2%
6.2%
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%Highest
RI: 63.6%
72.1%Lowest
RI: 63.6%
81.6%
RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
13 yrs newer than RI
1970Lowest
8 yrs newer than RI
1976Highest
14 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
35% above RI
24 minLowest
5% below RI
25 min
4% below RI
Work from home
13.1%±4.7Lowest
RI: 13%
13.3%±3.4
RI: 13%
14%±3.1Highest
RI: 13%
Smithfield and Lincoln 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 #21 of 38 in RI #8 of 38 in RI
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy Smithfield
High school in town Ponaganset High School Lincoln Senior High School Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
14.7Highest
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.