Compare towns

Franklin vs Smithfield vs Chaplin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).

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.

MeasureFranklinSmithfieldChaplin
People
Population
2,004Lowest
22,233Highest
2,070
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
40.3±4.3Lowest
4% above U.S.
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
43.7±4.8Highest
12% above U.S.
Chaplin and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
27.2%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
17.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Smithfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
10.1%±6.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Smithfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$105,000±$10kHighest
30% above U.S.
$102,077±$8k
26% above U.S.
$97,846±$14kLowest
21% above U.S.
Franklin and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$326,200±$20k
about the U.S. average
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
$255,200±$24kLowest
23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$767±$529Lowest
46% below U.S.
$1,016±$241
28% below U.S.
$1,473±$275Highest
4% above U.S.
Chaplin and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,934Lowest
26% above U.S.
$5,207Highest
67% above U.S.
$4,524
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
19.5%±18.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.6%±27.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Smithfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
3% above U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
Work from home
6.8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±10Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Chaplin 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 Franklin School District Smithfield Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town None in town Smithfield High School Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.8Highest
7.5Lowest
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.