Compare towns
Scituate vs Smithfield vs Glocester vs Johnston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Scituate has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Glocester has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k 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.
| Measure | Scituate | Smithfield | Glocester | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,517 |
22,233 |
10,221Lowest |
29,835Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+2.3% RI: +4.3% |
+2.8% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 49.9±4 23% above RI |
41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average |
50.8±4.3Highest 25% above RI |
44.5±2.5 10% 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 | 14.9%±3.3Lowest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
19.8%±4.3Highest RI: 18.8% |
17.5%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
| Glocester and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.3Highest RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
22.2%±3.4 RI: 18.7% |
22.1%±2.6 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+ | 34.7% RI: 37.7% |
40%Highest RI: 37.7% |
35.7% RI: 37.7% |
28.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.3%±1.9 RI: 8.3% |
6.1%±1.6 RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,315±$23k 28% above RI |
$102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
$113,508±$7kHighest 29% above RI |
$91,866±$6kLowest 5% 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 | $449,300±$26kHighest 11% above RI |
$446,400±$12k 10% above RI |
$396,500±$28k about the RI average |
$355,500±$13kLowest 12% below RI |
| Scituate and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,489±$251Highest 11% above RI |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,417±$627 6% above RI |
$1,275±$132 5% below RI |
| Scituate and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,265Highest 7% above RI |
$5,207 6% above RI |
$5,248 7% above RI |
$4,614Lowest 6% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.6%±25.9 RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7 RI: 48% |
64.5%±24Highest RI: 48% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest 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 | 5% RI: 11.2% |
6.2% RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
7.9%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% RI: 63.6% |
81.6% RI: 63.6% |
91%Highest RI: 63.6% |
75.9%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 4 yrs newer than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
1975 13 yrs newer than RI |
1968 6 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 20% above RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
34 minHighest 35% above RI |
24 minLowest 7% below RI |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 RI: 13% |
14%±3.1Highest RI: 13% |
13.1%±4.7 RI: 13% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
| 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 | #17 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI | #12 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Scituate | Smithfield | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Johnston |
| High school in town | Scituate High School | Smithfield High School | Ponaganset High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
11.8 |
12.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.