What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the most kids (16.9% under 18).

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).

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	Jackson
People
Population	22,233Highest	897Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S.	60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jackson and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S.	$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S.
	Jackson 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.	$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S.
	Jackson 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.	$6,001Highest 92% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield and Jackson 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%	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jackson 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	Jackson School District
High school in town	Smithfield High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8	—
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.