Compare towns
Smithfield vs Canton 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
Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Lincoln has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Canton | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Lowest |
24,748Highest |
22,864 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
43.7±2.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Lincoln and Canton 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% |
21.5%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Lincoln 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% |
18.8%±2Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$104,821±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$450,600±$17k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,468±$152 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 67% above U.S. |
$6,560Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,751Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.4%±9.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #8 of 38 in RI | #81 of 282 in MA | #21 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Canton High | Lincoln Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
13.1 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.