Compare towns

Chaplin vs Franklin vs Smithfield

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k 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.

MeasureChaplinFranklinSmithfield
People
Population
2,070
2,004Lowest
22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±4.8Highest
12% above U.S.
40.3±4.3Lowest
4% above U.S.
41.8±2.6
7% 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
15.7%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.2%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
20.9%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±2.1Highest
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+
25.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
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
$97,846±$14kLowest
21% above U.S.
$105,000±$10kHighest
30% above U.S.
$102,077±$8k
26% above U.S.
Franklin and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$255,200±$24kLowest
23% below U.S.
$326,200±$20k
about the U.S. average
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,473±$275Highest
4% above U.S.
$767±$529Lowest
46% below U.S.
$1,016±$241
28% below U.S.
Chaplin and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,524
45% above U.S.
$3,934Lowest
26% above U.S.
$5,207Highest
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7
U.S.: 51.1%
19.5%±18.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Smithfield and Chaplin 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%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±10Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Chaplin 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 — — #8 of 38 in RI
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Franklin School District Smithfield
High school in town Parish Hill High School None in town Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.5Lowest
—
11.8Highest
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.