Compare towns
North Smithfield vs Plainfield vs Woonsocket
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 most expensive homes ($457k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,708Lowest |
15,141 |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Smithfield and Plainfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Woonsocket 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 35% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% 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. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% 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% |
46.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woonsocket 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Smithfield and Plainfield 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 | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Smithfield | Plainfield School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | North Smitfield HS | Plainfield High School | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
10.3Lowest |
15.2Highest |
| 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.