Compare towns
North Smithfield vs Smithfield vs Ware
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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.
| Measure | North Smithfield | Smithfield | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,708 |
22,233Highest |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Ware 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%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| North Smithfield and Ware 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%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below 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. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below 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. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Ware 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. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% 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% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Smithfield 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% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Smithfield | Smithfield | Ware |
| High school in town | North Smitfield HS | Smithfield High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.8 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.