Compare towns
Smithfield vs Ayer vs Coventry
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($356k 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.
| Measure | Smithfield | Ayer | Coventry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233 |
8,645Lowest |
35,907Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44±1.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Coventry 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% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Coventry 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Coventry 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% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$102,946±$8kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Coventry 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±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$356,200±$11kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Ayer 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. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,206±$155 15% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 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%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #24 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Ayer Shirley School District | Coventry |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Coventry High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
11.5Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.