Compare towns
Smithfield vs Meredith 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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Meredith | Glocester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
6,758Lowest |
10,221 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3 31% above U.S. |
| Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7kHighest 41% 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. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Meredith 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. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average |
| Glocester and Meredith 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. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$5,248Highest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest 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% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 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. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #8 of 38 in RI | #62 of 120 in NH | #12 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Foster-Glocester · Glocester |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Ponaganset High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
11.1Lowest |
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.