What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).

Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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	Derby	Smithfield
People
Population	12,487Lowest	22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S.	41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Derby and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Smithfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average	$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S.	$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,510Highest 77% above U.S.	$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.9%±12.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Derby 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	#138 of 149 in CT	#8 of 38 in RI
School district	Derby School District	Smithfield
High school in town	Derby High School	Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	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.