What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).

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	Townsend
People
Population	12,708Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S.	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.
	North Smithfield and Townsend 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%	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Townsend and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Smithfield and Townsend 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%	35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Townsend 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±$12kLowest 35% above U.S.	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.
	Townsend 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.	$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S.
	North Smithfield and Townsend 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.	$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S.
	Townsend 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.	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townsend 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%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.
Work from home	14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Smithfield and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	North Smithfield	North Middlesex
High school in town	North Smitfield HS	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Lowest	13.1Highest
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.