Compare towns
Glocester vs Pepperell vs Smithfield vs Scituate
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 affordable homes ($397k median).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Scituate has the oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
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 | Pepperell | Smithfield | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,221Lowest |
11,663 |
22,233Highest |
10,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.9±4 28% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and Glocester 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% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
| Pepperell 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±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,489±$251Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,248 68% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester and Scituate 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI | #17 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | North Middlesex | Smithfield | Scituate |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | None in town | Smithfield High School | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.8 |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.