Compare towns
Scituate vs Westerly vs Glocester
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 youngest population (median age 49.9).
Westerly has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Glocester has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Westerly | Glocester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,517 |
23,333Highest |
10,221Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+2.5%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+2.3% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 49.9±4Lowest 23% above RI |
52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI |
50.8±4.3 25% above RI |
| Westerly and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±3.3 RI: 18.8% |
14.4%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.8% |
19.8%±4.3Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Glocester and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.3 RI: 18.7% |
26.4%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
22.2%±3.4Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Westerly and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.7%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
45.8%Highest RI: 37.7% |
35.7% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
5%±1.5Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.3%±1.9 RI: 8.3% |
| Westerly and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,315±$23k 28% above RI |
$98,875±$5kLowest 13% above RI |
$113,508±$7kHighest 29% 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±$26k 11% above RI |
$466,600±$15kHighest 15% above RI |
$396,500±$28kLowest about the RI average |
| Westerly and Scituate 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 |
$1,257±$131Lowest 6% below RI |
$1,417±$627 6% 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 | $5,265Highest 7% above RI |
$3,847Lowest 21% below RI |
$5,248 7% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.6%±25.9 RI: 48% |
46.6%±10.4Lowest RI: 48% |
64.5%±24Highest 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% |
5.2%Highest RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% RI: 63.6% |
74.7%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
91%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 4 yrs newer than RI |
1973 11 yrs newer than RI |
1975Highest 13 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 20% above RI |
24 minLowest 5% below RI |
34 minHighest 35% above RI |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1Highest RI: 13% |
11.5%±2.5Lowest RI: 13% |
13.1%±4.7 RI: 13% |
| Scituate 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 | #17 of 38 in RI | #25 of 38 in RI | #12 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Scituate | Westerly | Foster-Glocester · Glocester |
| High school in town | Scituate High School | Westerly High School | Ponaganset High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
9.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.