Compare towns
Erving vs North Smithfield vs Woonsocket vs Wendell
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 expensive homes ($457k median).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Erving | North Smithfield | Woonsocket | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
12,708 |
43,521Highest |
850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest 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. |
47.1±8.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Wendell 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%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 22.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wendell and Erving 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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. |
$65,288±$14k 19% below 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. |
$290,300±$31k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 18% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,239±$519 12% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Wendell 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. |
$4,519 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% |
55.6%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wendell 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.3%Highest 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% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer 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. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.8%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wendell 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 | — | #13 of 38 in RI | #37 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Erving | North Smithfield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | New Salem-Wendell |
| 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.