Compare towns

Providence vs Glocester vs Warwick

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Glocester has the highest household income ($114k).
Warwick has the most affordable homes ($355k median).

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.

MeasureProvidenceGlocesterWarwick
People
Population
191,767Highest
10,221Lowest
83,175
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
RI: +4.3%
+2.3%
RI: +4.3%
+0.2%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
Median age
32.8±0.5Lowest
19% below RI
50.8±4.3Highest
25% above RI
44.3±1
9% above RI
Kids under 18
20.1%±1Highest
RI: 18.8%
19.8%±4.3
RI: 18.8%
17.6%±1.1Lowest
RI: 18.8%
Providence and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.6%±0.7Lowest
RI: 18.7%
22.2%±3.4Highest
RI: 18.7%
21.6%±1.2
RI: 18.7%
Glocester and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.6%
RI: 37.7%
35.7%Highest
RI: 37.7%
33.7%Lowest
RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.4%±0.8Highest
RI: 8.3%
4.3%±1.9Lowest
RI: 8.3%
5.6%±0.7
RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,119±$3kLowest
22% below RI
$113,508±$7kHighest
29% above RI
$88,708±$6k
about the RI average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,200±$8k
10% below RI
$396,500±$28kHighest
about the RI average
$354,600±$5kLowest
12% below RI
Glocester and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$42
5% above RI
$1,417±$627Highest
6% above RI
$1,363±$76Lowest
about the RI average
Glocester and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,418Lowest
10% below RI
$5,248Highest
7% above RI
$4,616
6% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48%±2.8Lowest
RI: 48%
64.5%±24Highest
RI: 48%
53.1%±6.1
RI: 48%
Glocester and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
20.7%Highest
RI: 11.2%
4.8%Lowest
RI: 11.2%
7.6%
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
41.4%Lowest
RI: 63.6%
91%Highest
RI: 63.6%
73.3%
RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
24 yrs older than RI
1975Highest
13 yrs newer than RI
1961
1 yr older than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
about the RI average
34 minHighest
35% above RI
25 minLowest
4% below RI
Work from home
14.3%±1.2Highest
RI: 13%
13.1%±4.7
RI: 13%
12.4%±1.2Lowest
RI: 13%
Providence 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 #36 of 38 in RI #12 of 38 in RI #28 of 38 in RI
School district MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative Foster-Glocester · Glocester Warwick
High school in town Classical High School Ponaganset High School Pilgrim High School
Students per teacherat that high school
17.2Highest
12.8
10.5Lowest
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.