What stands out worked out from the figures below

Glocester has the most kids (19.8% under 18).

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Glocester	Thompson
People
Population	10,221Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	50.8±4.3Lowest 31% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
	Thompson and Glocester 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%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson 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%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Glocester and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Glocester and Thompson 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.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Glocester and Thompson 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.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Glocester and Thompson 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%	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#12 of 38 in RI	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Foster-Glocester · Glocester	Thompson School District
High school in town	Ponaganset High School	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.