Compare towns

North Smithfield vs Sutton vs Woonsocket

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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).

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.

MeasureNorth SmithfieldSuttonWoonsocket
People
Population
12,708
9,452Lowest
43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.5±3.9Highest
17% above U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
North Smithfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.2%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Sutton 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%
18.8%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
North Smithfield and Sutton 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%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
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.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$457,200±$21k
37% above U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
Sutton and North 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.
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
North Smithfield and Sutton 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.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±11.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Sutton and Woonsocket 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%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
14.2%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #13 of 38 in RI #105 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI
School district North Smithfield Sutton RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town North Smitfield HS Sutton High School Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
12.6
15.2Highest
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.