Compare towns
Gardner vs North Smithfield vs Woonsocket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
North Smithfield has the highest household income ($109k).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Gardner | North Smithfield | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148 |
12,708Lowest |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest 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+ | 19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Smithfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$5,219Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Smithfield and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #13 of 38 in RI | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Gardner | North Smithfield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Gardner High | North Smitfield HS | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
12.1Lowest |
15.2Highest |
| 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.