What stands out worked out from the figures below

Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% under 18).

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	Blackstone	Smithfield
People
Population	9,255Lowest	22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±1.7Highest 11% above U.S.	41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Blackstone and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Blackstone and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithfield and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,191±$21kLowest 17% above U.S.	$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Smithfield and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,400±$34kLowest 22% above U.S.	$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S.
	Smithfield and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,189±$85Highest 16% below U.S.	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Blackstone and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,703Highest 83% above U.S.	$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Blackstone and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Blackstone and Smithfield 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	#207 of 282 in MA	#8 of 38 in RI
School district	Blackstone-Millville	Smithfield
High school in town	Blackstone Millville RHS	Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	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.