Compare towns
Glocester vs Needham 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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,221Lowest |
32,459Highest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,248 68% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Needham | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | Needham High | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.9 |
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.