What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).

North Smithfield has the most homeowners (77.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lincoln	North Smithfield
People
Population	22,864Highest	12,708Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7%Highest RI: +4.3%	+5.2%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	43.7±2.2Lowest 8% above RI	45.5±3.9Highest 12% above RI
	North Smithfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.5%±3Highest RI: 18.8%	19.2%±3.2Lowest RI: 18.8%
	Lincoln and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24%±2.7Highest RI: 18.7%	20.9%±2.8Lowest RI: 18.7%
	Lincoln 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+	45.9%Highest RI: 37.7%	33.8%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.8Highest RI: 8.3%	4.4%±1.3Lowest RI: 8.3%
	Lincoln 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	$104,821±$15kLowest 19% above RI	$108,866±$12kHighest 24% above RI
	North Smithfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$450,600±$17kLowest 11% above RI	$457,200±$21kHighest 13% above RI
	North Smithfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,468±$152Highest 9% above RI	$1,282±$531Lowest 4% below RI
	Lincoln and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,751Lowest 3% below RI	$5,219Highest 7% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.4%±9.8Highest RI: 48%	33.6%±11.4Lowest RI: 48%
	Lincoln and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest RI: 11.2%	4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.1%Lowest RI: 63.6%	77.9%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 8 yrs newer than RI	1972Highest 10 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 5% below RI	26 minHighest 4% above RI
Work from home	13.3%±3.4Lowest RI: 13%	14.2%±3.6Highest RI: 13%
	North Smithfield and Lincoln 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	#21 of 38 in RI	#13 of 38 in RI
School district	Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy	North Smithfield
High school in town	Lincoln Senior High School	North Smitfield HS
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

RI 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.