Compare towns
Glocester vs Needham vs Pascoag vs North 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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Pascoag has the youngest population (median age 39.1).
North Smithfield has the shortest commute (26 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 | Needham | Pascoag | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,221 |
32,459Highest |
4,410Lowest |
12,708 |
| 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% |
+5.2% 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 |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
| Glocester and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2Lowest 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% |
20.9%±2.8 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% |
33.8% 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% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$121,369±$34k 50% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12kLowest 35% 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. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,319±$444 7% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531Lowest 9% 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. |
$5,219 67% 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%±27.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest 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% |
4.8% 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% |
77.9% 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. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA | — | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Needham | — | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | Needham High | — | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.9Lowest |
— | 12.1 |
| 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.