Compare towns

North Smithfield vs Glocester vs Woonsocket

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Glocester has the most homeowners (91%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).

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.

MeasureNorth SmithfieldGlocesterWoonsocket
People
Population
12,708
10,221Lowest
43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%Highest
RI: +4.3%
+2.3%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
+5%
RI: +4.3%
Median age
45.5±3.9
12% above RI
50.8±4.3Highest
25% above RI
35.7±1.3Lowest
12% below RI
Glocester and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.2%±3.2Lowest
RI: 18.8%
19.8%±4.3
RI: 18.8%
23.3%±2Highest
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+
20.9%±2.8
RI: 18.7%
22.2%±3.4Highest
RI: 18.7%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
RI: 18.7%
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+
33.8%
RI: 37.7%
35.7%Highest
RI: 37.7%
19.8%Lowest
RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±1.3
RI: 8.3%
4.3%±1.9Lowest
RI: 8.3%
5.1%±0.9Highest
RI: 8.3%
Woonsocket and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,866±$12k
24% above RI
$113,508±$7kHighest
29% above RI
$61,059±$5kLowest
30% below RI
Glocester and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$457,200±$21kHighest
13% above RI
$396,500±$28k
about the RI average
$311,000±$15kLowest
23% below RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,282±$531
4% below RI
$1,417±$627Highest
6% above RI
$1,161±$48Lowest
13% below RI
Glocester and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,219
7% above RI
$5,248Highest
7% above RI
$3,960Lowest
19% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±11.4Lowest
RI: 48%
64.5%±24Highest
RI: 48%
46.7%±5.4
RI: 48%
Glocester and Woonsocket 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%
4.8%Lowest
RI: 11.2%
18.7%Highest
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.9%
RI: 63.6%
91%Highest
RI: 63.6%
37.2%Lowest
RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
10 yrs newer than RI
1975Highest
13 yrs newer than RI
1952Lowest
10 yrs older than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
4% above RI
34 minHighest
35% above RI
29 min
15% above RI
Work from home
14.2%±3.6Highest
RI: 13%
13.1%±4.7
RI: 13%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
RI: 13%
North Smithfield 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 #13 of 38 in RI #12 of 38 in RI #37 of 38 in RI
School district North Smithfield Foster-Glocester · Glocester RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town North Smitfield HS Ponaganset High School Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
12.8
15.2Highest
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.