Compare towns

Smithfield vs Coventry vs North Smithfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
North Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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.

MeasureSmithfieldCoventryNorth Smithfield
People
Population
22,233
35,907Highest
12,708Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
RI: +4.3%
+1.9%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
+5.2%Highest
RI: +4.3%
Median age
41.8±2.6Lowest
about the RI average
44±1.1
8% above RI
45.5±3.9Highest
12% above RI
North Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±2.4Lowest
RI: 18.8%
18.2%±1.8
RI: 18.8%
19.2%±3.2Highest
RI: 18.8%
North Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±2.1Highest
RI: 18.7%
19.2%±1.6Lowest
RI: 18.7%
20.9%±2.8
RI: 18.7%
Smithfield and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%Highest
RI: 37.7%
31.2%Lowest
RI: 37.7%
33.8%
RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
16.7%±0.9Highest
RI: 8.3%
5.5%±1.2
RI: 8.3%
4.4%±1.3Lowest
RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,077±$8kLowest
16% above RI
$102,946±$8k
17% above RI
$108,866±$12kHighest
24% above RI
North Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$446,400±$12k
10% above RI
$356,200±$11kLowest
12% below RI
$457,200±$21kHighest
13% above RI
North Smithfield 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
24% below RI
$1,206±$155
10% below RI
$1,282±$531Highest
4% below RI
North Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,207
6% above RI
$5,099Lowest
4% above RI
$5,219Highest
7% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±17.7Highest
RI: 48%
51.5%±11.1
RI: 48%
33.6%±11.4Lowest
RI: 48%
Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%
RI: 11.2%
7.4%Highest
RI: 11.2%
4.8%Lowest
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.6%
RI: 63.6%
82%Highest
RI: 63.6%
77.9%Lowest
RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
14 yrs newer than RI
1973
11 yrs newer than RI
1972Lowest
10 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
4% below RI
26 min
about the RI average
26 minHighest
4% above RI
Work from home
14%±3.1
RI: 13%
11.3%±2.2Lowest
RI: 13%
14.2%±3.6Highest
RI: 13%
North Smithfield 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 #24 of 38 in RI #13 of 38 in RI
School district Smithfield Coventry North Smithfield
High school in town Smithfield High School Coventry High School North Smitfield HS
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8Lowest
12.3Highest
12.1
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RI 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.