What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

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

Measure	Lincoln	Smithfield
People
Population	22,864Highest	22,233Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7%Highest RI: +4.3%	+3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	43.7±2.2Highest 8% above RI	41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average
	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 RI: 18.8%	16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8%
	Lincoln and 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%	21.1%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.7%
	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 RI: 37.7%	40%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.8Lowest RI: 8.3%	16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,821±$15kHighest 19% above RI	$102,077±$8kLowest 16% above RI
	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 11% above RI	$446,400±$12kLowest 10% above RI
	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 9% above RI	$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,751Lowest 3% below RI	$5,207Highest 6% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.4%±9.8Lowest RI: 48%	57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48%
	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%Highest RI: 11.2%	6.2%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.1%Lowest RI: 63.6%	81.6%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 8 yrs newer than RI	1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 5% below RI	25 minHighest 4% below RI
Work from home	13.3%±3.4Lowest RI: 13%	14%±3.1Highest RI: 13%
	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	#8 of 38 in RI
School district	Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy	Smithfield
High school in town	Lincoln Senior High School	Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	11.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.