Compare towns
Smithfield vs Salem 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Salem | Glocester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233 |
44,795Highest |
10,221Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4Highest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%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% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% 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. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Glocester 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. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$5,248 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #12 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Salem | Foster-Glocester · Glocester |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Salem High | Ponaganset High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
9.8Lowest |
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.