Compare towns
Plainfield vs North Smithfield vs Wauregan
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 expensive homes ($457k median).
Wauregan has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | North Smithfield | Wauregan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
12,708 |
1,049Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
32±5.9Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±9.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wauregan and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Smithfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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 | $76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$79,545±$18k about the U.S. average |
| North Smithfield and Wauregan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$262,700±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,254±$476 11% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Wauregan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 35% above U.S. |
$5,219Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,649Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.4%±19.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Smithfield and Plainfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #13 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | North Smithfield | — |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | North Smitfield HS | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| 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.