Compare towns
Erving vs North Smithfield vs Woonsocket vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
North Smithfield has the most people working from home (14.2%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Erving | North Smithfield | Woonsocket | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
12,708 |
43,521Highest |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 11% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Chester and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Erving 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+ | 24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket 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 | $77,656±$9k 4% below U.S. |
$108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$89,390±$6k 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$281,900±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 18% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,104±$71Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$5,219Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$4,522 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±22.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chester and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #13 of 38 in RI | #37 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Erving | North Smithfield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | North Smitfield HS | Woonsocket High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
15.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.