Compare towns

Coventry vs Smithfield vs Columbia

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Coventry has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).

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.

MeasureCoventrySmithfieldColumbia
People
Population
12,326
22,233Highest
5,300Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.4±3.8
17% above U.S.
41.8±2.6Lowest
7% above U.S.
51.3±10.3Highest
32% above U.S.
Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Coventry and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.2%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
24.9%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Columbia and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,213±$5k
34% above U.S.
$102,077±$8kLowest
26% above U.S.
$127,000±$30kHighest
57% above U.S.
Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$330,000±$23kLowest
about the U.S. average
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
$361,500±$16k
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,232±$330Highest
13% below U.S.
$1,016±$241
28% below U.S.
$966±$304Lowest
32% below U.S.
Coventry and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,284Highest
69% above U.S.
$5,207Lowest
67% above U.S.
$5,228
68% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.7%±23.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
17.6%±16.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Coventry and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
Work from home
15.6%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.6%±6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Columbia and Coventry 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 #41 of 149 in CT #8 of 38 in RI #114 of 149 in CT
School district Coventry School District Smithfield Columbia School District
High school in town Coventry High School Smithfield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9Lowest
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.