Compare towns

Glocester vs Needham vs Pascoag

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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Pascoag has the most renters (27.2% rent).

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.

MeasureGlocesterNeedhamPascoag
People
Population
10,221
32,459Highest
4,410Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
39.1±3.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
22.2%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Glocester and Pascoag 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%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Needham and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,508±$7kLowest
41% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$121,369±$34k
50% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$396,500±$28k
19% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$365,000±$47kLowest
10% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,417±$627
about the U.S. average
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,319±$444Lowest
7% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,248
68% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,395Lowest
41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±27.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Glocester and Needham 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%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
30% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #12 of 38 in RI #19 of 282 in MA —
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester Needham —
High school in town Ponaganset High School Needham High —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
11.9Lowest
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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.