Compare towns
Glocester vs Westerly vs Smithfield vs Foster
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 affordable homes ($397k median).
Westerly has the most renters (25.3% rent).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Foster has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Smithfield | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,221 |
23,333Highest |
22,233 |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% RI: +4.3% |
+2.5% RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
-3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3 25% above RI |
52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI |
41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average |
47.1±3 16% above RI |
| 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% |
16.9%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
18.7%±4.4 RI: 18.8% |
| Glocester and Foster 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% |
21.1%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
18.5%±3.2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Westerly 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 RI: 37.7% |
45.8%Highest RI: 37.7% |
40% RI: 37.7% |
36.9% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 RI: 8.3% |
5%±1.5 RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,508±$7k 29% above RI |
$98,875±$5kLowest 13% above RI |
$102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
$113,646±$18kHighest 29% above RI |
| Foster 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 about the RI average |
$466,600±$15kHighest 15% above RI |
$446,400±$12k 10% above RI |
$425,300±$30k 5% above RI |
| Westerly and Smithfield 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 |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,509±$556Highest 12% above RI |
| 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 7% above RI |
$3,847Lowest 21% below RI |
$5,207 6% above RI |
$7,135Highest 46% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24 RI: 48% |
46.6%±10.4Lowest RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7 RI: 48% |
65.8%±25.5Highest RI: 48% |
| 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% RI: 11.2% |
5.2% RI: 11.2% |
6.2%Highest RI: 11.2% |
4.7%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% RI: 63.6% |
74.7%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
81.6% RI: 63.6% |
91.4%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 13 yrs newer than RI |
1973Lowest 11 yrs newer than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
1975 13 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 35% above RI |
24 minLowest 5% below RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
33 min 30% above RI |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7 RI: 13% |
11.5%±2.5Lowest RI: 13% |
14%±3.1 RI: 13% |
17.7%±4.9Highest RI: 13% |
| Foster and Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Westerly | Smithfield | Foster |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | Westerly High School | Smithfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.6Lowest |
11.8 |
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| 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.