Compare towns
North Smithfield vs Plainfield 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 the oldest population (median age 45.5).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Plainfield | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,708Lowest |
15,141 |
22,233Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and 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 37% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Plainfield 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. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest 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 |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Smithfield and 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Smithfield | Plainfield School District | Smithfield |
| High school in town | North Smitfield HS | Plainfield High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.