Compare towns
Smithfield vs Clinton vs Plainfield
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 expensive homes ($446k median).
Clinton has the most renters (45.3% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.
| Measure | Smithfield | Clinton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
15,563 |
15,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Highest 7% above U.S. |
38.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Smithfield and Clinton 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% |
17.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Clinton 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Plainfield 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% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Smithfield and Clinton 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. |
$387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,402±$76Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,654 49% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Clinton 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Smithfield | Clinton | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Clinton Senior High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
12.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.