Compare towns
Smithfield vs Boston vs Burrillville
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).
Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Burrillville has the highest household income ($120k).
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 | Boston | Burrillville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233 |
666,442Highest |
16,427Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
33.3±0.2Lowest 14% below U.S. |
45.1±4.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Burrillville and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Burrillville 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% |
13%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Burrillville 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±0.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$97,344±$2kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$119,813±$16kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Burrillville 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. |
$731,700±$10kHighest 120% above U.S. |
$384,400±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,147±$25Highest 52% above U.S. |
$1,206±$251 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,456Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,667 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±1.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±14.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Boston 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% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±0.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #8 of 38 in RI | #258 of 282 in MA | #30 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Burrillville |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Boston Latin School | Burrillville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
18.7Highest |
12.0 |
| 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.