Compare towns
Smithfield vs Ayer vs Glocester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Ayer has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Smithfield | Ayer | Glocester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
3,098Lowest |
10,221 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average |
| Glocester and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 67% above U.S. |
$4,911Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$5,248Highest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | — | Foster-Glocester · Glocester |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | — | Ponaganset High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.