Compare towns
Smithfield vs Ashford vs Lincoln
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 most homeowners (81.6%).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Lincoln has the most kids (21.5% 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 | Smithfield | Ashford | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233 |
4,226Lowest |
22,864Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Lincoln and 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% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lincoln and Ashford 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% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lincoln 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% |
35.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest 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% |
5.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$104,821±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Ashford and Lincoln 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. |
$334,800±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$450,600±$17kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Lincoln 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. |
$1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
$1,468±$152Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Lincoln and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 67% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,751Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.4%±9.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.4Lowest 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 | #21 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Ashford School District | Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | None in town | Lincoln Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| 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.