Compare towns

Chaplin vs North Smithfield vs Woonsocket vs Franklin

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%).
North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).

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.

MeasureChaplinNorth SmithfieldWoonsocketFranklin
People
Population
2,070
12,708
43,521Highest
2,004Lowest
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.
40.3±4.3
4% above U.S.
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%±2
U.S.: 22%
27.2%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Franklin and Woonsocket 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%
17.4%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.4Lowest
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±$12kHighest
35% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$105,000±$10k
30% above U.S.
North Smithfield and Franklin 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.
$326,200±$20k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,473±$275Highest
4% above U.S.
$1,282±$531
9% below U.S.
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
$767±$529Lowest
46% 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.
$5,219Highest
67% above U.S.
$3,960
27% above U.S.
$3,934Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7
U.S.: 51.1%
33.6%±11.4
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
19.5%±18.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Woonsocket and Chaplin 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%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 min
11% above U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±10Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.8%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Chaplin and North 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 — #13 of 38 in RI #37 of 38 in RI —
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 North Smithfield RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Franklin 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
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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.