What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Smithfield has the most kids (19.2% under 18).

Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Smithfield	Suffield
People
Population	12,708Lowest	15,702Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S.	44.5±1.7Lowest 14% above U.S.
	North Smithfield and Suffield 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%	16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	North Smithfield and Suffield 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%	18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Smithfield and Suffield 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%	40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,866±$12kLowest 35% above U.S.	$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S.
	Suffield and North 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.	$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,282±$531Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average
	Suffield and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,219Lowest 67% above U.S.	$6,456Highest 107% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	14.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.4%±4.1Highest 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	#57 of 149 in CT
School district	North Smithfield	Suffield School District
High school in town	North Smitfield HS	Suffield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.