Compare towns
North Smithfield vs Glocester vs Woonsocket vs Scituate
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 shortest commute (26 min average).
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.
| Measure | North Smithfield | Glocester | Woonsocket | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,708 |
10,221Lowest |
43,521Highest |
10,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+2.3% RI: +4.3% |
+5% RI: +4.3% |
+0.5%Lowest 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 |
49.9±4 23% above RI |
| Glocester and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±3.2 RI: 18.8% |
19.8%±4.3 RI: 18.8% |
23.3%±2Highest RI: 18.8% |
14.9%±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+ | 20.9%±2.8 RI: 18.7% |
22.2%±3.4 RI: 18.7% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest RI: 18.7% |
25.2%±4.3Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Scituate and Glocester 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% |
34.7% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.3 RI: 8.3% |
4.3%±1.9 RI: 8.3% |
5.1%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$112,315±$23k 28% 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 | $457,200±$21kHighest 13% above RI |
$396,500±$28k about the RI average |
$311,000±$15kLowest 23% below RI |
$449,300±$26k 11% above RI |
| North Smithfield and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,282±$531 4% below RI |
$1,417±$627 6% above RI |
$1,161±$48Lowest 13% below RI |
$1,489±$251Highest 11% above RI |
| Scituate and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,219 7% above RI |
$5,248 7% above RI |
$3,960Lowest 19% below RI |
$5,265Highest 7% above 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% |
59.6%±25.9 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% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
18.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
5% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% RI: 63.6% |
91%Highest RI: 63.6% |
37.2%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
87.3% 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 |
1966 4 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% above RI |
34 minHighest 35% above RI |
29 min 15% above RI |
31 min 20% above RI |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.6Highest RI: 13% |
13.1%±4.7 RI: 13% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest RI: 13% |
13.3%±5.1 RI: 13% |
| North 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 | #13 of 38 in RI | #12 of 38 in RI | #37 of 38 in RI | #17 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Smithfield | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Scituate |
| High school in town | North Smitfield HS | Ponaganset High School | Woonsocket High School | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.8 |
15.2Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.