Compare towns
North Smithfield vs Suffield vs Lincoln
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 oldest population (median age 45.5).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Lincoln has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
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 | Suffield | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,708Lowest |
15,702 |
22,864Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
43.7±2.2Lowest 12% 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%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lincoln and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lincoln 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lincoln 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±$12k 35% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$104,821±$15kLowest 30% 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. |
$450,600±$17k 35% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,282±$531Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,468±$152Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Lincoln 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. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$4,751Lowest 52% 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% |
40.4%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suffield and Lincoln 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.4Lowest 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 | #21 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Smithfield | Suffield School District | Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy |
| High school in town | North Smitfield HS | Suffield High School | Lincoln Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
10.9Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.