Compare towns
Hingham vs North Smithfield vs Woonsocket vs Hull
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
North Smithfield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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.
| Measure | Hingham | North Smithfield | Woonsocket | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
12,708 |
43,521Highest |
10,138Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
56.1±1.8Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest 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%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hull and Hingham 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% |
50.4% 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% |
4.2%±2.2 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. |
$115,485±$14k 43% above 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. |
$646,000±$38k 94% above 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. |
$2,081±$187 47% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,089 95% 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% |
52.8%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Hull 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% |
5.8% 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% |
79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 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. |
33 min 26% 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% |
19.7%±4.3 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 | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | North Smithfield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Hull |
| High school in town | Hingham High | North Smitfield HS | Woonsocket High School | Hull High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.1 |
15.2Highest |
8.8Lowest |
| 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.