Compare towns

Smithfield vs Brooklyn vs Windsor Locks 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

Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Lincoln has the most renters (27.9% 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.

MeasureSmithfieldBrooklynWindsor LocksLincoln
People
Population
22,233
8,517Lowest
12,579
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.
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
43.7±2.2
12% above U.S.
Brooklyn and Lincoln 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%
20.6%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
21.5%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Lincoln and Brooklyn 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%
17.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7
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%
23.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,077±$8k
26% above U.S.
$96,207±$15k
19% above U.S.
$81,205±$13kLowest
about the U.S. average
$104,821±$15kHighest
30% above U.S.
Lincoln 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.
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
$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.
$1,125±$98
20% below U.S.
$1,394±$187
about the U.S. average
$1,468±$152Highest
4% above U.S.
Lincoln and Windsor Locks 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.
$4,538
45% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$4,751
52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.4%±9.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Smithfield 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%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
7% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
Work from home
14%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±3.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Windsor Locks 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 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT #21 of 38 in RI
School district Smithfield Brooklyn School District Windsor Locks School District Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy
High school in town Smithfield High School None in town Windsor Locks High School Lincoln Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8
—
8.9Lowest
14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.