Compare towns
Glocester vs Preston vs Plainfield
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 people working from home (13.1%).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.
| Measure | Glocester | Preston | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,221 |
4,821Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.2±7 19% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Glocester and Preston 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% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Glocester and Plainfield 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% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Preston 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±$28kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Glocester and Preston 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 |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Preston and Glocester 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. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Glocester and Preston 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Preston School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.