Compare towns
North Providence vs Providence vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Providence has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Providence has the most renters (58.6% rent).
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 | North Providence | Providence | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,293 |
191,767Highest |
22,233Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% RI: +4.3% |
+7.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.9Highest 4% above RI |
32.8±0.5Lowest 19% below RI |
41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
| North Providence and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 RI: 18.8% |
20.1%±1Highest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Providence 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 RI: 18.7% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Smithfield 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% RI: 37.7% |
34.6%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
40%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.4Lowest RI: 8.3% |
14.4%±0.8 RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,756±$6k 5% below RI |
$68,119±$3kLowest 22% below RI |
$102,077±$8kHighest 16% above RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,900±$12kLowest 12% below RI |
$362,200±$8k 10% below RI |
$446,400±$12kHighest 10% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,405±$64 5% above RI |
$1,408±$42Highest 5% above RI |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
| Providence 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 about the RI average |
$4,418Lowest 10% below RI |
$5,207Highest 6% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±6.2Lowest RI: 48% |
48%±2.8 RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
| Smithfield and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% RI: 11.2% |
20.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
6.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.9% RI: 63.6% |
41.4%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 8 yrs newer than RI |
1938Lowest 24 yrs older than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 7% above RI |
25 min about the RI average |
25 minLowest 4% below RI |
| Work from home | 12.4%±2.5Lowest RI: 13% |
14.3%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
14%±3.1 RI: 13% |
| Providence 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 | #26 of 38 in RI | #36 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Smithfield |
| High school in town | North Providence High | Classical High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
17.2Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| 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.