Compare towns
Smithfield vs Rowley 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%).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Glocester has the most homeowners (91%).
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 | Rowley | Glocester | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
6,251Lowest |
10,221 |
22,220 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest 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. |
50±6.3 29% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
43±2.2 11% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Rowley 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% |
19.3%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Glocester and Rowley 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% |
21.6%±4.1 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% |
56.8%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% |
4.8%±2.2 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. |
$132,734±$32kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$97,764±$8kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Rowley and Glocester 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. |
$667,300±$52kHighest 101% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$485,000±$25k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,603±$520Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$1,579±$118 12% above U.S. |
| Rowley and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% 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% |
57.7%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester and Rowley 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% |
3.1%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% |
81.7% 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. |
1975 5 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 7% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±4Lowest 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #12 of 38 in RI | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Triton | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | None in town | 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.