Compare towns
Smithfield vs Middleborough 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 homeowners (81.6%).
Middleborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
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 | Middleborough | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233 |
24,505Highest |
22,220Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.4±2.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
43±2.2 11% above U.S. |
| Middleborough 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% |
18.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middleborough and Smithfield 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% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Middleborough 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% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest 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±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$97,056±$7kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$97,764±$8k 21% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Bristol 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. |
$468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Bristol and Middleborough 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. |
$1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,579±$118 12% above U.S. |
| Middleborough 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. |
$6,023Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,393 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleborough and Smithfield 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Middleborough 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 | #170 of 282 in MA | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Middleborough | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Middleborough High | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
11.3Lowest |
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.