What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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.

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

Measure	North Smithfield	Thompson
People
Population	12,708Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.5±3.9Lowest 17% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	North Smithfield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
	North Smithfield and Thompson 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.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	North Smithfield and Thompson 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.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson and North 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%	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Smithfield and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	North Smithfield	Thompson School District
High school in town	North Smitfield HS	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	7.9Lowest
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.