What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ansonia has the most affordable homes ($287k median).

Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ansonia	Smithfield
People
Population	19,033Lowest	22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±1.6Lowest 3% above U.S.	41.8±2.6Highest 7% above U.S.
	Smithfield and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ansonia and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithfield and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,877±$10kLowest 6% above U.S.	$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Smithfield and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$287,200±$14kLowest 14% below U.S.	$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,476±$121Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,446Highest 75% above U.S.	$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	9.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Smithfield and Ansonia 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	#142 of 149 in CT	#8 of 38 in RI
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District	Smithfield
High school in town	Emmett O'Brien Technical High School	Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	11.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.