Compare towns

Smithfield vs Warwick vs Woonsocket vs Glocester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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.

MeasureSmithfieldWarwickWoonsocketGlocester
People
Population
22,233
83,175Highest
43,521
10,221Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
RI: +4.3%
+0.2%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
+5%Highest
RI: +4.3%
+2.3%
RI: +4.3%
Median age
41.8±2.6
about the RI average
44.3±1
9% above RI
35.7±1.3Lowest
12% below RI
50.8±4.3Highest
25% above RI
Kids under 18
16.9%±2.4Lowest
RI: 18.8%
17.6%±1.1
RI: 18.8%
23.3%±2Highest
RI: 18.8%
19.8%±4.3
RI: 18.8%
Woonsocket 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
RI: 18.7%
21.6%±1.2
RI: 18.7%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
RI: 18.7%
22.2%±3.4Highest
RI: 18.7%
Glocester and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%Highest
RI: 37.7%
33.7%
RI: 37.7%
19.8%Lowest
RI: 37.7%
35.7%
RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
16.7%±0.9Highest
RI: 8.3%
5.6%±0.7
RI: 8.3%
5.1%±0.9
RI: 8.3%
4.3%±1.9Lowest
RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,077±$8k
16% above RI
$88,708±$6k
about the RI average
$61,059±$5kLowest
30% below RI
$113,508±$7kHighest
29% above RI
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±$12kHighest
10% above RI
$354,600±$5k
12% below RI
$311,000±$15kLowest
23% below RI
$396,500±$28k
about the RI average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,016±$241Lowest
24% below RI
$1,363±$76
about the RI average
$1,161±$48
13% below RI
$1,417±$627Highest
6% above RI
Glocester and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,207
6% above RI
$4,616
6% below RI
$3,960Lowest
19% below RI
$5,248Highest
7% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±17.7
RI: 48%
53.1%±6.1
RI: 48%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
RI: 48%
64.5%±24Highest
RI: 48%
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%
RI: 11.2%
7.6%
RI: 11.2%
18.7%Highest
RI: 11.2%
4.8%Lowest
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.6%
RI: 63.6%
73.3%
RI: 63.6%
37.2%Lowest
RI: 63.6%
91%Highest
RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
14 yrs newer than RI
1961
1 yr older than RI
1952Lowest
10 yrs older than RI
1975
13 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
4% below RI
25 minLowest
4% below RI
29 min
15% above RI
34 minHighest
35% above RI
Work from home
14%±3.1Highest
RI: 13%
12.4%±1.2
RI: 13%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
RI: 13%
13.1%±4.7
RI: 13%
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 #28 of 38 in RI #37 of 38 in RI #12 of 38 in RI
School district Smithfield Warwick RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Foster-Glocester · Glocester
High school in town Smithfield High School Pilgrim High School Woonsocket High School Ponaganset High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8
10.5Lowest
15.2Highest
12.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

RI 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.