Compare towns
Lincoln vs Smithfield vs Woonsocket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
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%).
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.
| Measure | Lincoln | Smithfield | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,864 |
22,233Lowest |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+5% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.2Highest 8% above RI |
41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 12% below RI |
| 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%±3 RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
23.3%±2Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Woonsocket and Lincoln 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%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest 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% RI: 37.7% |
19.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.8 RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,821±$15kHighest 19% above RI |
$102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
$61,059±$5kLowest 30% below 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±$12k 10% above RI |
$311,000±$15kLowest 23% below 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 |
$1,161±$48 13% below RI |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,751 3% below RI |
$5,207Highest 6% above RI |
$3,960Lowest 19% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±9.8Lowest RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
46.7%±5.4 RI: 48% |
| Smithfield and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% RI: 11.2% |
6.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
18.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.1% RI: 63.6% |
81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
37.2%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 8 yrs newer than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
1952Lowest 10 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 5% below RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
29 minHighest 15% above RI |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.4 RI: 13% |
14%±3.1Highest RI: 13% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy | Smithfield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Lincoln Senior High School | Smithfield High School | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
11.8Lowest |
15.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.