What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

Bristol has the most renters (33.9% rent).

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	Bristol
People
Population	22,233Highest	22,220Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3%	-2%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average	43±2.2Highest 6% above RI
	Bristol and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8%	12.9%±1.9Lowest RI: 18.8%
	Smithfield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.7%	22.9%±2Highest RI: 18.7%
	Bristol 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%Lowest RI: 37.7%	47.6%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.7%±0.9Lowest RI: 8.3%	18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3%
	Bristol and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,077±$8kHighest 16% above RI	$97,764±$8kLowest 11% above RI
	Smithfield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,400±$12kLowest 10% above RI	$485,000±$25kHighest 20% above RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI	$1,579±$118Highest 18% above RI
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,207Lowest 6% above RI	$5,393Highest 10% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48%	37.9%±8.1Lowest RI: 48%
	Smithfield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest RI: 11.2%	6.5%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Highest RI: 63.6%	66.1%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI	1964Lowest 2 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below RI	25 minHighest about the RI average
Work from home	14%±3.1Highest RI: 13%	11.2%±2.7Lowest RI: 13%
	Smithfield and Bristol 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	#20 of 38 in RI
School district	Smithfield	Bristol Warren
High school in town	Smithfield High School	Mt. Hope High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Lowest	12.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

RI 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.