Compare towns
Glocester vs Upton vs Foster vs North 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 oldest population (median age 50.8).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Foster has the most homeowners (91.4%).
North Smithfield has the shortest commute (26 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.
| Measure | Glocester | Upton | Foster | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,221 |
8,189 |
4,523Lowest |
12,708Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Foster 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% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 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%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester and North Smithfield 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Lowest 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% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Smithfield 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. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Upton and Foster 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
| Foster and Glocester 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. |
$7,135 129% above U.S. |
$5,219Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Glocester 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Foster 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 | #22 of 38 in RI | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Foster | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— | 12.1 |
| 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.