What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).

Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).

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	Smithfield	Ashford
People
Population	22,233Highest	4,226Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.8±2.6Highest 7% above U.S.	37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average
	Smithfield and Ashford 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%	18.5%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ashford and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithfield and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S.	$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.
	Ashford and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S.	$334,800±$18kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,246±$208Highest 12% below U.S.
	Ashford and Smithfield 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.	$6,982Highest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield and Ashford 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%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ashford and 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	#90 of 149 in CT
School district	Smithfield	Ashford School District
High school in town	Smithfield High School	None in town
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.