Compare towns

Glocester vs Upton vs Charlestown

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).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Charlestown has the shortest commute (28 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.

MeasureGlocesterUptonCharlestown
People
Population
10,221Highest
8,189
8,051Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±4.3
31% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Lowest
19% above U.S.
53.3±2.1Highest
37% above U.S.
Charlestown and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
13%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Upton 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%
20.7%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Charlestown 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.6%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Charlestown 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.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$109,404±$10kLowest
36% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$396,500±$28kLowest
19% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$525,500±$57k
58% above U.S.
Upton and Charlestown 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
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,374±$134
about the U.S. average
Glocester and Charlestown 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.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$3,365Lowest
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60.7%±20.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Glocester and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
30% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.9%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Charlestown 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 #46 of 282 in MA #10 of 38 in RI
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Chariho
High school in town Ponaganset High School Blackstone Valley None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
11.2Lowest
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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.