Compare towns
Russell vs Smithfield vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Russell has the most affordable homes ($303k median).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Montgomery has the most kids (22% 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 | Russell | Smithfield | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,197 |
22,233Highest |
796Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.6 23% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Montgomery and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Montgomery and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montgomery and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$24k 35% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$123,000±$19kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Montgomery and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $303,300±$32kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$357,500±$29k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,013±$330Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Highest 28% below U.S. |
— |
| Smithfield and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,104 64% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,283Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.6%±20.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Montgomery 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 | — | #8 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | — | Smithfield | — |
| High school in town | — | Smithfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.