What stands out worked out from the figures below

Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).

Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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	Scituate	Smithfield
People
Population	10,517Lowest	22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3%	+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3%
Median age	49.9±4Highest 23% above RI	41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average
Kids under 18	14.9%±3.3Lowest RI: 18.8%	16.9%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8%
	Smithfield and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.2%±4.3Highest RI: 18.7%	21.1%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.7%
	Scituate and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.7%Lowest RI: 37.7%	40%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3%	16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,315±$23kHighest 28% above RI	$102,077±$8kLowest 16% above RI
	Scituate and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$449,300±$26kHighest 11% above RI	$446,400±$12kLowest 10% above RI
	Scituate and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,489±$251Highest 11% above RI	$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI
	Scituate and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,265Highest 7% above RI	$5,207Lowest 6% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.6%±25.9Highest RI: 48%	57.1%±17.7Lowest RI: 48%
	Scituate and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest RI: 11.2%	6.2%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest RI: 63.6%	81.6%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 4 yrs newer than RI	1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 20% above RI	25 minLowest 4% below RI
Work from home	13.3%±5.1Lowest RI: 13%	14%±3.1Highest RI: 13%
	Smithfield and Scituate 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	#17 of 38 in RI	#8 of 38 in RI
School district	Scituate	Smithfield
High school in town	Scituate High School	Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	11.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.