Compare towns
North Smithfield vs Putnam 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 people working from home (14.2%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Putnam | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,708 |
9,292Lowest |
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. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Smithfield and Putnam 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% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket 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 35% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Woonsocket 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woonsocket and Putnam 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Smithfield and Putnam 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Smithfield | Putnam School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | North Smitfield HS | Putnam High School | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
9.5Lowest |
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.