Compare towns

Hingham 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

Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
North Smithfield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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.

MeasureHinghamNorth SmithfieldWoonsocket
People
Population
24,283
12,708Lowest
43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.4±2.4Highest
24% above U.S.
45.5±3.9
17% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
Hingham and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2
U.S.: 22%
Hingham and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hingham 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+
76.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
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
$178,390±$15kHighest
121% above U.S.
$108,866±$12k
35% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
241% above U.S.
$457,200±$21k
37% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,465±$603Highest
74% above U.S.
$1,282±$531
9% below U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,219
67% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60.3%±12Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.6%±11.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Hingham and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
33.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #14 of 282 in MA #13 of 38 in RI #37 of 38 in RI
School district Hingham North Smithfield RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town Hingham High North Smitfield HS Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9
12.1Lowest
15.2Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.