Compare towns

Glocester vs Townsend vs Scituate

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 affordable homes ($397k median).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Scituate has the shortest commute (31 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.

MeasureGlocesterTownsendScituate
People
Population
10,221
9,100Lowest
10,517Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
49.9±4
28% above U.S.
Glocester and Scituate 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%
21%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.9%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Townsend and Glocester 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%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Scituate 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%
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Townsend and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,508±$7k
41% above U.S.
$121,528±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
$112,315±$23kLowest
39% above U.S.
Townsend and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$396,500±$28kLowest
19% above U.S.
$433,200±$22k
30% above U.S.
$449,300±$26kHighest
35% above U.S.
Scituate and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,417±$627Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,469±$313
4% above U.S.
$1,489±$251Highest
5% above U.S.
Scituate and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,248Lowest
68% above U.S.
$6,031Highest
93% above U.S.
$5,265
69% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59.6%±25.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Glocester and Scituate 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%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
30% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
31 minLowest
16% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Scituate 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 #136 of 282 in MA #17 of 38 in RI
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester North Middlesex Scituate
High school in town Ponaganset High School North Middlesex Regional Scituate High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
13.1Highest
10.8Lowest
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.