What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k median).

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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.

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

Measure	North Smithfield	Chaplin
People
Population	12,708Highest	2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S.	43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S.
	North Smithfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	North Smithfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2%	20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chaplin and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S.	$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S.
	North Smithfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.	$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,282±$531Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S.
	Chaplin and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,219Highest 67% above U.S.	$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1%	33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	14.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chaplin and North 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	#13 of 38 in RI	—
School district	North Smithfield	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town	North Smitfield HS	Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	7.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.