Compare towns
Glocester vs Thompson vs Plainville 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 most kids (19.8% under 18).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Plainville has the most renters (32.3% rent).
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.
| Measure | Glocester | Thompson | Plainville | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,221 |
9,337Lowest |
17,551 |
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±4.3 31% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% 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% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Glocester and Smithfield 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Smithfield 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. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241 28% below U.S. |
| Glocester and Plainville 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. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Thompson School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Plainville High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
7.9Lowest |
11.4 |
11.8 |
| 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.



