Compare towns
Smithfield vs Lancaster vs Plainfield 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Lancaster | Plainfield | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
8,606Lowest |
15,141 |
22,220 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43±2.2 11% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 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. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$97,764±$8k 21% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$485,000±$25k 46% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Bristol 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. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,579±$118 12% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 67% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,393 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #8 of 38 in RI | #145 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Nashoba | Plainfield School District | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | 10.3Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.