Compare towns
Smithfield vs Wakefield vs Glocester vs Johnston
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).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k 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 | Wakefield | Glocester | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233 |
27,793 |
10,221Lowest |
29,835Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Johnston 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% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Glocester 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%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester and Johnston 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% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Wakefield 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. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Glocester 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. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$5,248 68% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #8 of 38 in RI | #179 of 282 in MA | #12 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Johnston |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Ponaganset High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
10.7 |
12.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.