Compare towns

Glocester vs Sterling vs Brooklyn 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 oldest population (median age 50.8).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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.

MeasureGlocesterSterlingBrooklynSmithfield
People
Population
10,221
3,629Lowest
8,517
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.
39.4±5.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.6±2.5
17% above U.S.
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
Glocester and Brooklyn 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%
22.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sterling and Brooklyn 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%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9
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%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,508±$7kHighest
41% above U.S.
$102,695±$12k
27% above U.S.
$96,207±$15kLowest
19% above U.S.
$102,077±$8k
26% above U.S.
Glocester and Sterling 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.
$283,400±$17kLowest
15% below U.S.
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,417±$627Highest
about the U.S. average
—
$1,125±$98
20% below U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
Glocester and Brooklyn 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.
$4,551
46% above U.S.
$4,538Lowest
45% above U.S.
$5,207
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
30% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4Lowest
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 #119 of 149 in CT #113 of 149 in CT #8 of 38 in RI
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester Sterling School District Brooklyn School District Smithfield
High school in town Ponaganset High School None in town None in town Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
— —
11.8Lowest
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.