Compare towns

Glocester vs Sturbridge 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).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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.

MeasureGlocesterSturbridgeSmithfield
People
Population
10,221
9,960Lowest
22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
47.2±2.6
21% above U.S.
41.8±2.6Lowest
7% above U.S.
Glocester and Sturbridge 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%
20.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sturbridge 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%
19.8%±3Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,508±$7k
41% above U.S.
$136,759±$15kHighest
69% above U.S.
$102,077±$8kLowest
26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$396,500±$28kLowest
19% above U.S.
$425,800±$18k
28% above U.S.
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
Smithfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,417±$627Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
Glocester and Sturbridge 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.
$6,520Highest
109% above U.S.
$5,207Lowest
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7Lowest
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%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
30% above U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Sturbridge and Smithfield 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 282 in MA #8 of 38 in RI
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester Sturbridge · Tantasqua Smithfield
High school in town Ponaganset High School Tantasqua Regional Sr High Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
7.7Lowest
11.8
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.