Compare towns
Lincoln vs Plainfield vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lincoln has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).
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 | Lincoln | Plainfield | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,864Highest |
15,141Lowest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
| Lincoln and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lincoln and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lincoln and 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,821±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Lincoln and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,600±$17kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| Lincoln and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,468±$152Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,751 52% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy | Plainfield School District | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Lincoln Senior High School | Plainfield High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.