What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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	Lunenburg	Smithfield
People
Population	11,902Lowest	22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S.	41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Lunenburg and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lunenburg and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithfield and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,828±$11kHighest 40% above U.S.	$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Lunenburg and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S.	$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S.
	Lunenburg and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S.	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,401Highest 105% above U.S.	$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	15.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lunenburg and Smithfield 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	#87 of 282 in MA	#8 of 38 in RI
School district	Lunenburg	Smithfield
High school in town	Lunenburg High	Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	11.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.