Compare towns
Smithfield vs Bristol 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
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Bristol has the most renters (33.9% rent).
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 | Bristol | Glocester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
22,220 |
10,221Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
-2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+2.3% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average |
43±2.2 6% above RI |
50.8±4.3Highest 25% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest RI: 18.8% |
19.8%±4.3Highest RI: 18.8% |
| 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 RI: 18.7% |
22.9%±2Highest RI: 18.7% |
22.2%±3.4 RI: 18.7% |
| Bristol 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% RI: 37.7% |
47.6%Highest RI: 37.7% |
35.7%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9 RI: 8.3% |
18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Bristol and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
$97,764±$8kLowest 11% above RI |
$113,508±$7kHighest 29% above RI |
| 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±$12k 10% above RI |
$485,000±$25kHighest 20% above RI |
$396,500±$28kLowest about the RI average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,579±$118Highest 18% above RI |
$1,417±$627 6% above RI |
| Bristol and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Lowest 6% above RI |
$5,393Highest 10% above RI |
$5,248 7% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 RI: 48% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest RI: 48% |
64.5%±24Highest RI: 48% |
| 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% RI: 11.2% |
6.5%Highest RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% RI: 63.6% |
66.1%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
91%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
1964Lowest 2 yrs newer than RI |
1975 13 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below RI |
25 min about the RI average |
34 minHighest 35% above RI |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Highest RI: 13% |
11.2%±2.7Lowest RI: 13% |
13.1%±4.7 RI: 13% |
| Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #20 of 38 in RI | #12 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Bristol Warren | Foster-Glocester · Glocester |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Mt. Hope High School | Ponaganset High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
12.5 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.