Compare towns
Smithfield vs Lancaster vs Plainfield vs North Smithfield
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).
North Smithfield has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
8,606Lowest |
15,141 |
12,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 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%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and North 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% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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. |
$108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and North 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. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and North 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. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 67% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% 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% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 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 |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 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 | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Nashoba | Plainfield School District | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | 10.3Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| 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.