Compare towns
North Smithfield vs Smithfield vs Suffield vs Scituate
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 kids (19.2% under 18).
Smithfield has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Smithfield | Suffield | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,708 |
22,233Highest |
15,702 |
10,517Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Scituate 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%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| North Smithfield and 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% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Scituate 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. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,489±$251Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Suffield 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. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Scituate and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and North 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #57 of 149 in CT | #17 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Smithfield | Smithfield | Suffield School District | Scituate |
| High school in town | North Smitfield HS | Smithfield High School | Suffield High School | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.8 |
10.9 |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.