Compare towns

Glocester vs Thompson 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 most affordable homes ($292k median).
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.

MeasureGlocesterThompsonSmithfield
People
Population
10,221
9,337Lowest
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.
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%
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%
21.1%±2.1Lowest
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%
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%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,508±$7kHighest
41% above U.S.
$93,629±$18kLowest
16% 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±$24kLowest
12% 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.
$1,016±$241
28% below U.S.
Glocester and Smithfield 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.
$5,207
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 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.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4Lowest
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 #130 of 149 in CT #8 of 38 in RI
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester Thompson School District Smithfield
High school in town Ponaganset High School Tourtellotte Memorial High School Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
7.9Lowest
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.