Compare towns
Smithfield vs Gardner 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).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k 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.
| Measure | Smithfield | Gardner | Glocester | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
21,148 |
10,221Lowest |
12,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest 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±2.3 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%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 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% |
23.8%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% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below 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. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% 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. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
| Glocester and North Smithfield 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. |
$4,150Lowest 33% 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% |
49.7%±8.6 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest 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% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
31 min 16% 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% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Smithfield 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #12 of 38 in RI | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Gardner | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Gardner High | Ponaganset High School | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.8 |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.