Compare towns

Glocester vs Northfield 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 most kids (19.8% under 18).
Northfield has the most people working from home (16.5%).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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.

MeasureGlocesterNorthfieldSmithfield
People
Population
10,221
2,872Lowest
22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
48.9±4.2
26% above U.S.
41.8±2.6Lowest
7% 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%
16.9%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.2%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±2.1Lowest
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%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±3
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,508±$7kHighest
41% above U.S.
$103,375±$10k
28% above U.S.
$102,077±$8kLowest
26% 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±$28k
19% above U.S.
$375,800±$31kLowest
13% above U.S.
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,417±$627Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,142±$200
19% below U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% 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.
$5,207
67% 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%
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
31 min
19% above U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.5%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Northfield and Smithfield 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 #8 of 38 in RI
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester Pioneer Valley Smithfield
High school in town Ponaganset High School Pioneer Valley Regional Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
10.7Lowest
11.8
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.