Compare towns
Glocester vs Westerly vs Scituate vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Glocester has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Westerly has the most renters (25.3% rent).
Scituate has the oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Westerly | Scituate | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,221Lowest |
23,333Highest |
10,517 |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% RI: +4.3% |
+2.5% RI: +4.3% |
+0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3 25% above RI |
52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI |
49.9±4 23% above RI |
41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average |
| Westerly 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 RI: 18.8% |
14.4%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.8% |
14.9%±3.3 RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
| 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 RI: 18.7% |
26.4%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
25.2%±4.3 RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Westerly and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7% RI: 37.7% |
45.8%Highest RI: 37.7% |
34.7%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
40% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 RI: 8.3% |
5%±1.5 RI: 8.3% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,508±$7kHighest 29% above RI |
$98,875±$5kLowest 13% above RI |
$112,315±$23k 28% above RI |
$102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
| Glocester and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,500±$28kLowest about the RI average |
$466,600±$15kHighest 15% above RI |
$449,300±$26k 11% above RI |
$446,400±$12k 10% above RI |
| Westerly and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,417±$627 6% above RI |
$1,257±$131 6% below RI |
$1,489±$251Highest 11% above RI |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
| Scituate and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,248 7% above RI |
$3,847Lowest 21% below RI |
$5,265Highest 7% above RI |
$5,207 6% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24Highest RI: 48% |
46.6%±10.4Lowest RI: 48% |
59.6%±25.9 RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7 RI: 48% |
| 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 RI: 11.2% |
5.2% RI: 11.2% |
5% RI: 11.2% |
6.2%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest RI: 63.6% |
74.7%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
87.3% RI: 63.6% |
81.6% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 13 yrs newer than RI |
1973 11 yrs newer than RI |
1966Lowest 4 yrs newer than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 35% above RI |
24 minLowest 5% below RI |
31 min 20% above RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7 RI: 13% |
11.5%±2.5Lowest RI: 13% |
13.3%±5.1 RI: 13% |
14%±3.1Highest RI: 13% |
| Smithfield and Scituate 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 | #25 of 38 in RI | #17 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Westerly | Scituate | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | Westerly High School | Scituate High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.6Lowest |
10.8 |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.