What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chaplin	Smithfield
People
Population	2,070Lowest	22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S.	41.8±2.6Lowest 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%	16.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Smithfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±4.4Lowest 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%	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.1%±6.2Lowest 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.	$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Smithfield and Chaplin 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.	$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,016±$241Lowest 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	$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S.	$5,207Highest 67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±27.7Lowest 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%	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±3.1Lowest 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	Smithfield
High school in town	Parish Hill High School	Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.5Lowest	11.8Highest
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.