What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).

Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Smithfield	Holbrook
People
Population	22,233Highest	11,380Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S.	42.8±3.2Highest 10% above U.S.
	Holbrook and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Holbrook and Smithfield 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%	19.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithfield and Holbrook 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%	34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S.	$115,210±$14kHighest 43% above U.S.
	Holbrook 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±$12kLowest 34% above U.S.	$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S.
	Holbrook 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 28% below U.S.	$1,094±$423Highest 23% below U.S.
	Holbrook and Smithfield 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.	$6,105Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.8%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield and Holbrook 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%	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Smithfield and Holbrook 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	#234 of 282 in MA
School district	Smithfield	Holbrook
High school in town	Smithfield High School	Holbrook Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Lowest	14.3Highest
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.