What stands out worked out from the figures below

Glocester has the most homeowners (91%).

North Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Glocester	North Smithfield
People
Population	10,221Lowest	12,708Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest RI: +4.3%	+5.2%Highest RI: +4.3%
Median age	50.8±4.3Highest 25% above RI	45.5±3.9Lowest 12% above RI
	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%±4.3Highest RI: 18.8%	19.2%±3.2Lowest RI: 18.8%
	Glocester and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±3.4Highest RI: 18.7%	20.9%±2.8Lowest RI: 18.7%
	Glocester and North 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%Highest RI: 37.7%	33.8%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.9Lowest RI: 8.3%	4.4%±1.3Highest RI: 8.3%
	North Smithfield 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±$7kHighest 29% above RI	$108,866±$12kLowest 24% above RI
	Glocester and North 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 about the RI average	$457,200±$21kHighest 13% above RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,417±$627Highest 6% above RI	$1,282±$531Lowest 4% below RI
	Glocester and North Smithfield 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	$5,219Lowest 7% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.5%±24Highest RI: 48%	33.6%±11.4Lowest RI: 48%
	Glocester and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8% RI: 11.2%	4.8% RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91%Highest RI: 63.6%	77.9%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 13 yrs newer than RI	1972Lowest 10 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 35% above RI	26 minLowest 4% above RI
Work from home	13.1%±4.7Lowest RI: 13%	14.2%±3.6Highest RI: 13%
	North 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	#13 of 38 in RI
School district	Foster-Glocester · Glocester	North Smithfield
High school in town	Ponaganset High School	North Smitfield HS
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.