Compare towns
Pawtucket vs Smithfield vs Warwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pawtucket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Warwick has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Pawtucket | Smithfield | Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 75,893 |
22,233Lowest |
83,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2% RI: +4.3% |
+0.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 37.1±0.8Lowest 9% below RI |
41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
44.3±1Highest 9% above RI |
| Warwick and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±1.6Highest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
17.6%±1.1 RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
21.6%±1.2Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Warwick and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
40%Highest RI: 37.7% |
33.7% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.8Lowest RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
5.6%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,310±$4kLowest 22% below RI |
$102,077±$8kHighest 16% above RI |
$88,708±$6k about the RI average |
| Smithfield and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$8kLowest 19% below RI |
$446,400±$12kHighest 10% above RI |
$354,600±$5k 12% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$39 10% below RI |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,363±$76Highest about the RI average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,115Lowest 16% below RI |
$5,207Highest 6% above RI |
$4,616 6% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±4.4Lowest RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
53.1%±6.1 RI: 48% |
| Smithfield and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.3%Highest RI: 11.2% |
6.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
7.6% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.1%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
73.3% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 15 yrs older than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
1961 1 yr older than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the RI average |
25 minLowest 4% below RI |
25 minLowest 4% below RI |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.5Lowest RI: 13% |
14%±3.1Highest RI: 13% |
12.4%±1.2 RI: 13% |
| Smithfield and Warwick 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 | #35 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI | #28 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Smithfield | Warwick |
| High school in town | William E. Tolman High | Smithfield High School | Pilgrim High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
11.8 |
10.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.