Compare towns
Bristol vs Smithfield vs Upton vs Middletown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($446k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Middletown has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Bristol | Smithfield | Upton | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,220 |
22,233Highest |
8,189Lowest |
16,832 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.2 11% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.8±2 13% above U.S. |
| Upton and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,764±$8kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$101,948±$6k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,000±$25k 46% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$563,300±$46k 69% above U.S. |
| Upton and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,579±$118 12% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241 28% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,990±$170Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,393 73% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,153 97% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI | #46 of 282 in MA | #23 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Bristol Warren | Smithfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Middletown |
| High school in town | Mt. Hope High School | Smithfield High School | Blackstone Valley | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
11.8 |
11.2 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.