Compare towns
Dedham vs North Smithfield vs Woonsocket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
North Smithfield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Dedham | North Smithfield | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
12,708Lowest |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest 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+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham 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+ | 55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Dedham and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #13 of 38 in RI | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Dedham | North Smithfield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Dedham High | North Smitfield HS | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.1 |
15.2Highest |
| 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.