Compare towns
Smithfield vs Orange 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Bristol has the most renters (33.9% 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 | Orange | Glocester | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
14,315 |
10,221Lowest |
22,220 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.6±2.4 17% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
43±2.2 11% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Orange 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Glocester 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% |
23%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Bristol 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% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$142,325±$10kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$97,764±$8kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$491,500±$17kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$485,000±$25k 46% above U.S. |
| Orange and Bristol 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. |
$2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$1,579±$118 12% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
$5,248 68% above U.S. |
$5,393 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester and Orange 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% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #12 of 38 in RI | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | — | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | — | Ponaganset High School | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
— | 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.