Compare towns
North Smithfield vs Suffield vs Woonsocket 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 expensive homes ($457k median).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Suffield | Woonsocket | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,708 |
15,702 |
43,521Highest |
10,517Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below 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%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate 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% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% 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% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest 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±$12k 35% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below 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. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below 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. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$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. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Scituate and Suffield 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #17 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Smithfield | Suffield School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Scituate |
| High school in town | North Smitfield HS | Suffield High School | Woonsocket High School | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
10.9 |
15.2Highest |
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.