Compare towns
Smithfield vs Ashby vs North Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithfield has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
North Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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.
| Measure | Smithfield | Ashby | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
3,211Lowest |
12,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
| Ashby and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Smithfield and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
| Ashby and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and North Smithfield 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | North Middlesex | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | None in town | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
— | 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.