What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k median).

Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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	Windsor Locks
People
Population	12,708Highest	12,579Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S.	41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.
	North Smithfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	North Smithfield and Windsor Locks 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%	18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Smithfield and Windsor Locks 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%	28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Windsor Locks 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±$12kHighest 35% above U.S.	$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.	$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,282±$531Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average
	Windsor Locks and North Smithfield 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.	$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windsor Locks 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%	10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	14.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Windsor Locks 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	#109 of 149 in CT
School district	North Smithfield	Windsor Locks School District
High school in town	North Smitfield HS	Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	8.9Lowest
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.