What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).

North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k 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	Plainville	North Smithfield
People
Population	17,551Highest	12,708Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+5.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S.	45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S.
	North Smithfield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	North Smithfield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Smithfield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville 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	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.	$108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.	$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S.
	North Smithfield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S.	$5,219Highest 67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainville and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Smithfield and Plainville 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	#89 of 149 in CT	#13 of 38 in RI
School district	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District	North Smithfield
High school in town	Plainville High School	North Smitfield HS
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	12.1Highest
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.