Compare towns
Coventry vs North Smithfield vs Scituate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
North Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Coventry | North Smithfield | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 35,907Highest |
12,708 |
10,517Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% RI: +4.3% |
+5.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 44±1.1Lowest 8% above RI |
45.5±3.9 12% above RI |
49.9±4Highest 23% above RI |
| Scituate and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.8 RI: 18.8% |
19.2%±3.2Highest RI: 18.8% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| North Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±1.6Lowest RI: 18.7% |
20.9%±2.8 RI: 18.7% |
25.2%±4.3Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Scituate and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.2%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
33.8% RI: 37.7% |
34.7%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.2Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.4%±1.3 RI: 8.3% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Coventry and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,946±$8kLowest 17% above RI |
$108,866±$12k 24% above RI |
$112,315±$23kHighest 28% above RI |
| Scituate and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,200±$11kLowest 12% below RI |
$457,200±$21kHighest 13% above RI |
$449,300±$26k 11% above RI |
| North Smithfield and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,206±$155Lowest 10% below RI |
$1,282±$531 4% below RI |
$1,489±$251Highest 11% above RI |
| Scituate and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 4% above RI |
$5,219 7% above RI |
$5,265Highest 7% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±11.1 RI: 48% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest RI: 48% |
59.6%±25.9Highest RI: 48% |
| Scituate and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
5% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% RI: 63.6% |
77.9%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
87.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 11 yrs newer than RI |
1972 10 yrs newer than RI |
1966Lowest 4 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the RI average |
26 min 4% above RI |
31 minHighest 20% above RI |
| Work from home | 11.3%±2.2Lowest RI: 13% |
14.2%±3.6Highest RI: 13% |
13.3%±5.1 RI: 13% |
| North Smithfield and Scituate 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 | #24 of 38 in RI | #13 of 38 in RI | #17 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Coventry | North Smithfield | Scituate |
| High school in town | Coventry High School | North Smitfield HS | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
12.1 |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.