Compare towns
Smithfield vs Bethlehem 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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Smithfield | Bethlehem | Glocester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
3,423Lowest |
10,221 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3 31% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Glocester 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% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$108,929±$16k 35% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Bethlehem 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. |
$410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Bethlehem 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. |
$1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average |
| Glocester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$5,932Highest 90% above U.S. |
$5,248 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Glocester 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% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Bethlehem 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #12 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Regional School District 14 | Foster-Glocester · Glocester |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | None in town | 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.