Compare towns
Glocester vs Smithfield vs Stow
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 oldest population (median age 50.8).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
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 | Smithfield | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,221 |
22,233Highest |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Stow 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%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Glocester 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% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest 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% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Stow 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. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester and Stow 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Smithfield | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | Smithfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.8Lowest |
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| 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.