What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Smithfield has the most homeowners (77.9%).

Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).

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	Lincoln
People
Population	12,708Lowest	22,864Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Lowest RI: +4.3%	+6.7%Highest RI: +4.3%
Median age	45.5±3.9Highest 12% above RI	43.7±2.2Lowest 8% above RI
	North Smithfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±3.2Lowest RI: 18.8%	21.5%±3Highest RI: 18.8%
	Lincoln and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±2.8Lowest RI: 18.7%	24%±2.7Highest RI: 18.7%
	Lincoln 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 RI: 37.7%	45.9%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.3Lowest RI: 8.3%	5.8%±1.8Highest RI: 8.3%
	Lincoln 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	$104,821±$15kLowest 19% above RI
	North Smithfield and Lincoln 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	$450,600±$17kLowest 11% above RI
	North Smithfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,282±$531Lowest 4% below RI	$1,468±$152Highest 9% above RI
	Lincoln 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 7% above RI	$4,751Lowest 3% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±11.4Lowest RI: 48%	40.4%±9.8Highest RI: 48%
	Lincoln 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%Highest RI: 63.6%	72.1%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 10 yrs newer than RI	1970Lowest 8 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 4% above RI	24 minLowest 5% below RI
Work from home	14.2%±3.6Highest RI: 13%	13.3%±3.4Lowest RI: 13%
	North Smithfield and Lincoln 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	#21 of 38 in RI
School district	North Smithfield	Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy
High school in town	North Smitfield HS	Lincoln Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Lowest	14.7Highest
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.