What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).

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	Chaplin
People
Population	22,233Highest	2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S.	43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S.
	Chaplin 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 U.S.: 22%	15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Smithfield and Chaplin 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%	20.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	10.1%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Smithfield and Chaplin 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 26% above U.S.	$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S.
	Smithfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S.	$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S.
	Chaplin and Smithfield 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.	$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield and Chaplin 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%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chaplin 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	—
School district	Smithfield	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town	Smithfield High School	Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	7.5Lowest
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.