Compare towns

Glocester vs Woonsocket vs Charlestown

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 highest household income ($114k).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Charlestown has the most people working from home (18.9%).

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.

MeasureGlocesterWoonsocketCharlestown
People
Population
10,221
43,521Highest
8,051Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%
RI: +4.3%
+5%Highest
RI: +4.3%
+2.2%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
Median age
50.8±4.3
25% above RI
35.7±1.3Lowest
12% below RI
53.3±2.1Highest
31% above RI
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
RI: 18.8%
23.3%±2Highest
RI: 18.8%
13%±3.3Lowest
RI: 18.8%
Woonsocket 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
RI: 18.7%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
RI: 18.7%
27.1%±3.5Highest
RI: 18.7%
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%
RI: 37.7%
19.8%Lowest
RI: 37.7%
40.4%Highest
RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9Lowest
RI: 8.3%
5.1%±0.9
RI: 8.3%
6.6%±2.7Highest
RI: 8.3%
Charlestown and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,508±$7kHighest
29% above RI
$61,059±$5kLowest
30% below RI
$109,404±$10k
25% above RI
Glocester and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$396,500±$28k
about the RI average
$311,000±$15kLowest
23% below RI
$525,500±$57kHighest
30% above RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,417±$627Highest
6% above RI
$1,161±$48Lowest
13% below RI
$1,374±$134
about the RI average
Glocester and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,248Highest
7% above RI
$3,960
19% below RI
$3,365Lowest
31% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±24Highest
RI: 48%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
RI: 48%
60.7%±20.6
RI: 48%
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%
RI: 11.2%
18.7%Highest
RI: 11.2%
4.2%Lowest
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%
RI: 63.6%
37.2%Lowest
RI: 63.6%
92%Highest
RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
13 yrs newer than RI
1952Lowest
10 yrs older than RI
1980Highest
18 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
35% above RI
29 min
15% above RI
28 minLowest
9% above RI
Work from home
13.1%±4.7
RI: 13%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
RI: 13%
18.9%±3.9Highest
RI: 13%
Charlestown and Glocester 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 #37 of 38 in RI #10 of 38 in RI
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Chariho
High school in town Ponaganset High School Woonsocket High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Lowest
15.2Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.