Compare towns
Smithfield vs Jackson 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 the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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 | Jackson | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
897Lowest |
22,220 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
43±2.2 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Smithfield and Bristol 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% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Bristol 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% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±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. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$97,764±$8kLowest 21% 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. |
$485,000±$25k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,579±$118 12% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Bristol 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. |
$5,393 73% 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% |
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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±2.7Lowest 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 | — | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Jackson School District | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | None in town | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
— | 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.