Compare towns
North Smithfield vs Lancaster vs Smithfield
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 Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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.
| Measure | North Smithfield | Lancaster | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,708 |
8,606Lowest |
22,233Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,219 67% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 38 in RI | #145 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Smithfield | Nashoba | Smithfield |
| High school in town | North Smitfield HS | None in town | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| 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.