What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pascoag has the most affordable homes ($365k 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	Pascoag
People
Population	12,708Highest	4,410Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest RI: +4.3%	+1.4%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	45.5±3.9Highest 12% above RI	39.1±3.7Lowest 4% below RI
	North Smithfield and Pascoag 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%	19.7%±6.9Highest RI: 18.8%
	Pascoag 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%	21%±5.1Highest RI: 18.7%
	Pascoag 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%Highest RI: 37.7%	26.1%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.3Highest RI: 8.3%	0.9%±1.1Lowest RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,866±$12kLowest 24% above RI	$121,369±$34kHighest 38% above RI
	Pascoag 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±$21kHighest 13% above RI	$365,000±$47kLowest 10% below RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,282±$531Lowest 4% below RI	$1,319±$444Highest about the RI average
	Pascoag 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	$4,395Lowest 10% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±11.4Lowest RI: 48%	36.1%±27.4Highest RI: 48%
	Pascoag 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%	11.4%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Highest RI: 63.6%	72.8%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 10 yrs newer than RI	1953Lowest 9 yrs older than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 4% above RI	35 minHighest 39% above RI
Work from home	14.2%±3.6Highest RI: 13%	7.4%±4.7Lowest RI: 13%
	North Smithfield and Pascoag 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	—
High school in town	North Smitfield HS	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1	—
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.