What stands out worked out from the figures below

Scotland has the most affordable homes ($294k median).

Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k 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	Scotland	Smithfield
People
Population	1,599Lowest	22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±5Highest 15% above U.S.	41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Scotland and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Smithfield and Scotland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithfield and Scotland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,881±$12kLowest 24% above U.S.	$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Smithfield and Scotland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,100±$20kLowest 12% below U.S.	$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,188±$468Highest 16% below U.S.	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Scotland and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,175Highest 98% above U.S.	$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±75.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield and Scotland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	11.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Smithfield and Scotland 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	Scotland School District	Smithfield
High school in town	None in town	Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.8
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.