Compare towns
North Smithfield vs Union 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 most people working from home (14.2%).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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.
| Measure | North Smithfield | Union | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,708 |
944Lowest |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Union 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and Union 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. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Union 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. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Woonsocket 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. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Smithfield and Union 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 | — | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Smithfield | Union School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | North Smitfield HS | None in town | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 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.