Compare towns
Chaplin vs North Smithfield vs Woonsocket vs Ashford
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 affordable homes ($255k median).
North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Chaplin | North Smithfield | Woonsocket | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
12,708 |
43,521Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
37.9±10.3 about the U.S. average |
| North Smithfield and Chaplin 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% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Ashford and North 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. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and North 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. |
$5,219 67% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashford and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5Highest 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 | — | #13 of 38 in RI | #37 of 38 in RI | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | North Smithfield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | North Smitfield HS | Woonsocket High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
12.1 |
15.2Highest |
— |
| 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.