Compare towns
Glocester vs Pascoag vs Westerly vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Glocester has the most homeowners (91%).
Pascoag has the most affordable homes ($365k median).
Westerly has the most expensive homes ($467k median).
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.
| Measure | Glocester | Pascoag | Westerly | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,221 |
4,410Lowest |
23,333Highest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% RI: +4.3% |
+1.4%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+2.5% RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3 25% above RI |
39.1±3.7Lowest 4% below RI |
52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI |
41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
| Westerly and Glocester 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% |
19.7%±6.9 RI: 18.8% |
14.4%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
| Glocester and Pascoag are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.4 RI: 18.7% |
21%±5.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
26.4%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
| Westerly 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% RI: 37.7% |
26.1%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
45.8%Highest RI: 37.7% |
40% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 RI: 8.3% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest RI: 8.3% |
5%±1.5 RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,508±$7k 29% above RI |
$121,369±$34kHighest 38% above RI |
$98,875±$5kLowest 13% above RI |
$102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
| Pascoag and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,500±$28k about the RI average |
$365,000±$47kLowest 10% below RI |
$466,600±$15kHighest 15% above RI |
$446,400±$12k 10% above RI |
| Westerly and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,417±$627Highest 6% above RI |
$1,319±$444 about the RI average |
$1,257±$131 6% below RI |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
| Glocester and Pascoag 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 |
$4,395 10% below RI |
$3,847Lowest 21% below RI |
$5,207 6% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24Highest RI: 48% |
36.1%±27.4Lowest RI: 48% |
46.6%±10.4 RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7 RI: 48% |
| 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 RI: 11.2% |
11.4%Highest RI: 11.2% |
5.2% RI: 11.2% |
6.2% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest RI: 63.6% |
72.8%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
74.7% RI: 63.6% |
81.6% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 13 yrs newer than RI |
1953Lowest 9 yrs older than RI |
1973 11 yrs newer than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 35% above RI |
35 minHighest 39% above RI |
24 minLowest 5% below RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7 RI: 13% |
7.4%±4.7Lowest RI: 13% |
11.5%±2.5 RI: 13% |
14%±3.1Highest RI: 13% |
| 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 | — | #25 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | — | Westerly | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | — | Westerly High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.