Compare towns

Glocester vs Smithfield vs Stoneham 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).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

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.

MeasureGlocesterSmithfieldStonehamScituate
People
Population
10,221Lowest
22,233
23,355Highest
10,517
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
41.8±2.6Lowest
7% above U.S.
42.2±2.2
8% 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%
16.9%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.9%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Stoneham 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%
21.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.2Lowest
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%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,508±$7k
41% above U.S.
$102,077±$8kLowest
26% above U.S.
$113,964±$10kHighest
41% above U.S.
$112,315±$23k
39% above U.S.
Stoneham 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.
$446,400±$12k
34% above U.S.
$671,900±$26kHighest
102% above U.S.
$449,300±$26k
35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,417±$627
about the U.S. average
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
$2,035±$142Highest
44% above U.S.
$1,489±$251
5% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,248
68% above U.S.
$5,207Lowest
67% above U.S.
$6,523Highest
109% above U.S.
$5,265
69% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2Lowest
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%
6.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
71%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1966
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±5.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #12 of 38 in RI #8 of 38 in RI #117 of 282 in MA #17 of 38 in RI
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester Smithfield Stoneham Scituate
High school in town Ponaganset High School Smithfield High School Stoneham High Scituate High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
11.8
10.7Lowest
10.8
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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.