What stands out worked out from the figures below

Glocester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

Northfield has the most people working from home (16.5%).

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	Northfield
People
Population	10,221Highest	2,872Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S.	48.9±4.2Lowest 26% above U.S.
	Glocester and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	14.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Glocester and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Northfield 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 U.S.: 35.7%	42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Northfield 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 41% above U.S.	$103,375±$10kLowest 28% above U.S.
	Glocester and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,500±$28kHighest 19% above U.S.	$375,800±$31kLowest 13% above U.S.
	Glocester and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average	$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Glocester and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,248Highest 68% above U.S.	$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±25.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Glocester and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	31 minLowest 19% above U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.5%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Northfield 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	#231 of 282 in MA
School district	Foster-Glocester · Glocester	Pioneer Valley
High school in town	Ponaganset High School	Pioneer Valley Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.