Compare towns
Smithfield vs Needham vs Coventry vs Lincoln
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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Lincoln has the most renters (27.9% 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 | Needham | Coventry | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233Lowest |
32,459 |
35,907Highest |
22,864 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44±1.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.7±2.2 12% above U.S. |
| Coventry and Lincoln 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lincoln 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$102,946±$8k 28% above U.S. |
$104,821±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$356,200±$11kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$450,600±$17k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,206±$155 15% below U.S. |
$1,468±$152 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 67% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
$4,751Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.4%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #8 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA | #24 of 38 in RI | #21 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Needham | Coventry | Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Needham High | Coventry High School | Lincoln Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
11.9 |
12.3 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.