Compare towns
North Smithfield vs Ware vs Woonsocket vs Smithfield
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 oldest population (median age 45.5).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Ware | Woonsocket | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,708 |
6,369Lowest |
43,521Highest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.8±6 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and 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. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and 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. |
$1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% 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. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% 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% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and 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% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Smithfield | — | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Smithfield |
| High school in town | North Smitfield HS | — | Woonsocket High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 15.2Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.