What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($446k median).

Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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	Canton
People
Population	22,233Lowest	24,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S.	42.6±2.3Highest 10% above U.S.
	Canton 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%	22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithfield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S.	$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S.	$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.	$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S.	$6,560Highest 110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#8 of 38 in RI	#81 of 282 in MA
School district	Smithfield	Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton
High school in town	Smithfield High School	Canton High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.