What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

Coventry has the most affordable homes ($356k 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	Coventry
People
Population	12,708Lowest	35,907Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest RI: +4.3%	+1.9%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	45.5±3.9Highest 12% above RI	44±1.1Lowest 8% above RI
	North Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±3.2Highest RI: 18.8%	18.2%±1.8Lowest RI: 18.8%
	North Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±2.8Highest RI: 18.7%	19.2%±1.6Lowest RI: 18.7%
	North Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.8%Highest RI: 37.7%	31.2%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.3Lowest RI: 8.3%	5.5%±1.2Highest RI: 8.3%
	Coventry 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 24% above RI	$102,946±$8kLowest 17% above RI
	North Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$457,200±$21kHighest 13% above RI	$356,200±$11kLowest 12% below RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,282±$531Highest 4% below RI	$1,206±$155Lowest 10% below RI
	North Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,219Highest 7% above RI	$5,099Lowest 4% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±11.4Lowest RI: 48%	51.5%±11.1Highest RI: 48%
	Coventry and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2%	7.4%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Lowest RI: 63.6%	82%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 10 yrs newer than RI	1973Highest 11 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 4% above RI	26 minLowest about the RI average
Work from home	14.2%±3.6Highest RI: 13%	11.3%±2.2Lowest RI: 13%
	North Smithfield and Coventry 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	#24 of 38 in RI
School district	North Smithfield	Coventry
High school in town	North Smitfield HS	Coventry High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.