Compare towns
Devens vs Smithfield vs Russell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Russell has the most affordable homes ($303k 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.
| Measure | Devens | Smithfield | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723 |
22,233Highest |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.7±7.6 23% above U.S. |
| Devens and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$108,750±$24k 35% above U.S. |
| Devens and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$303,300±$32kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241 28% below U.S. |
$1,013±$330Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Devens and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556Highest 78% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$5,104Lowest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens 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 | — | Smithfield | — |
| High school in town | — | Smithfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.