Compare towns
Smithfield vs Chaplin vs Glocester vs North Smithfield
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).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
North Smithfield has the most renters (22.1% rent).
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 | Chaplin | Glocester | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
2,070Lowest |
10,221 |
12,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
| Glocester and North Smithfield 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% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Glocester and North Smithfield 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% |
20.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8Lowest 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% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Smithfield and Chaplin 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 26% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
| Glocester and North 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 34% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Smithfield 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. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Glocester 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. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,248Highest 68% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and North 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 | — | #12 of 38 in RI | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Parish Hill High School | Ponaganset High School | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
7.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.



