Compare towns

Ashford vs Smithfield vs Chaplin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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.

MeasureAshfordSmithfieldChaplin
People
Population
4,226
22,233Highest
2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
37.9±10.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
43.7±4.8Highest
12% above U.S.
Chaplin and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.5%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Ashford and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.9%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Smithfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
10.1%±6.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Smithfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$121,926±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
$102,077±$8k
26% above U.S.
$97,846±$14kLowest
21% above U.S.
Ashford and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$334,800±$18k
about the U.S. average
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
$255,200±$24kLowest
23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,246±$208
12% below U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,473±$275Highest
4% above U.S.
Chaplin and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,982Highest
124% above U.S.
$5,207
67% above U.S.
$4,524Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47%±26
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.6%±27.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Smithfield and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
32 min
23% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±10
U.S.: 15.1%
Ashford and Chaplin 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 #90 of 149 in CT #8 of 38 in RI —
School district Ashford School District Smithfield Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town None in town Smithfield High School Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.8Highest
7.5Lowest
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.