Compare towns
Glocester vs Upton vs Plainfield 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 oldest population (median age 50.8).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.
| Measure | Glocester | Upton | Plainfield | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,221 |
8,189Lowest |
15,141 |
22,233Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Upton 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% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester and 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% 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% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241 28% below U.S. |
| Glocester and Plainfield 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. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 38 in RI | #46 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Plainfield School District | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | Blackstone Valley | Plainfield High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.2 |
10.3Lowest |
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.