Compare towns
North Providence vs Plainfield vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Providence has the most people working from home (12.4%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k median).
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 | North Providence | Plainfield | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,293Highest |
15,141Lowest |
22,220 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.9 8% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43±2.2Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Bristol and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,756±$6k 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$97,764±$8kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Bristol and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,900±$12k 7% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,405±$64 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Bristol and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843 55% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,393Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Providence and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Providence and Bristol 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 | #26 of 38 in RI | #131 of 149 in CT | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island | Plainfield School District | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | North Providence High | Plainfield High School | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
12.5 |
| 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.