Compare towns

Smithfield vs Fall River vs Glocester vs Bristol

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 most people working from home (14%).
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k median).

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.

MeasureSmithfieldFall RiverGlocesterBristol
People
Population
22,233
94,082Highest
10,221Lowest
22,220
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
39.3±1.2Lowest
about the U.S. average
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
43±2.2
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
16.9%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
12.9%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Fall River 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%
16.1%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.2%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
16.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
16.7%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
18.6%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
26% above U.S.
$56,673±$3kLowest
30% below U.S.
$113,508±$7kHighest
41% above U.S.
$97,764±$8k
21% 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±$12k
34% above U.S.
$395,500±$11kLowest
19% above U.S.
$396,500±$28k
19% above U.S.
$485,000±$25kHighest
46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,155±$27
18% below U.S.
$1,417±$627
about the U.S. average
$1,579±$118Highest
12% above U.S.
Bristol 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.
$3,953Lowest
27% above U.S.
$5,248
68% above U.S.
$5,393Highest
73% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
52.5%±3.3
U.S.: 51.1%
64.5%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.1Lowest
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%
19.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
35.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
66.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1964
16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
Work from home
14%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
11.2%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #262 of 282 in MA #12 of 38 in RI #20 of 38 in RI
School district Smithfield Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Foster-Glocester · Glocester Bristol Warren
High school in town Smithfield High School B M C Durfee High Ponaganset High School Mt. Hope High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8
11.3Lowest
12.8Highest
12.5
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.