What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k 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	Ware
People
Population	12,708Highest	6,369Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S.	39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average
	North Smithfield and Ware 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%	23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ware 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%	17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Smithfield and Ware 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%	15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	North Smithfield and Ware 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.	$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.	$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S.	$1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S.
	North Smithfield and Ware 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.	$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	14.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ware 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	#267 of 282 in MA
School district	North Smithfield	—
High school in town	North Smitfield HS	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1	—
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.