Compare towns
Smithfield vs Deerfield vs Bristol
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Bristol has the most renters (33.9% rent).
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 | Deerfield | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
5,158Lowest |
22,220 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
43±2.2 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Smithfield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$106,136±$14kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$97,764±$8kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Deerfield and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$414,900±$37kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
$1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Bristol and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
$5,393 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Bristol 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% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Deerfield 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Deerfield · Frontier | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Frontier Regional | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
11.1Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| 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.