Compare towns

Glocester vs Plainville 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).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).

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.

MeasureGlocesterPlainvilleSmithfield
People
Population
10,221Lowest
17,551
22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
44.3±1.5
14% above U.S.
41.8±2.6Lowest
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
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%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Glocester and 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
30%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,508±$7kHighest
41% above U.S.
$84,343±$7kLowest
4% above U.S.
$102,077±$8k
26% above U.S.
Glocester and Smithfield 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.
$254,000±$14kLowest
24% below U.S.
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,417±$627Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
Glocester and Plainville 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.
$4,798Lowest
54% above U.S.
$5,207
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4Lowest
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%
6.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
25 min
7% below U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #89 of 149 in CT #8 of 38 in RI
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester Judicial Centers · Plainville School District Smithfield
High school in town Ponaganset High School Plainville High School Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
11.4Lowest
11.8
On TownTapestry
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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.