Compare towns

North Smithfield vs Pomfret vs Plainfield

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).
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.

MeasureNorth SmithfieldPomfretPlainfield
People
Population
12,708
4,317Lowest
15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
45.5±3.9
17% above U.S.
45.9±3.7Highest
18% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Pomfret and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.2%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Pomfret 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%
17.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
North Smithfield and Pomfret 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%
50.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,866±$12kHighest
35% above U.S.
$108,476±$8k
34% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
North Smithfield and Pomfret 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.
$409,100±$28k
23% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
North Smithfield and Pomfret 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.
$1,210±$300
14% below U.S.
$1,204±$70Lowest
15% below U.S.
North Smithfield and Pomfret 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.
$5,903Highest
89% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±11.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±15.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Pomfret 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%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
14.2%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.2%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
North Smithfield and Pomfret 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 #39 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district North Smithfield Pomfret School District Plainfield School District
High school in town North Smitfield HS None in town Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Highest
—
10.3Lowest
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.