Compare towns

Smithfield vs Needham vs Coventry 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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
North Smithfield has the most renters (22.1% 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.

MeasureSmithfieldNeedhamCoventryNorth Smithfield
People
Population
22,233
32,459
35,907Highest
12,708Lowest
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%
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±2.6Lowest
7% above U.S.
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
44±1.1
13% above U.S.
45.5±3.9Highest
17% above U.S.
North Smithfield and Coventry 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%
19.2%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.2%±1.6
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%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.3Lowest
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.
$108,866±$12k
35% 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.
$457,200±$21k
37% 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.
$1,282±$531
9% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,207
67% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,099Lowest
63% above U.S.
$5,219
67% 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%
33.6%±11.4Lowest
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%
4.8%
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%
77.9%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.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
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%
14.2%±3.6
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 #13 of 38 in RI
School district Smithfield Needham Coventry North Smithfield
High school in town Smithfield High School Needham High Coventry High School North Smitfield HS
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8Lowest
11.9
12.3Highest
12.1
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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.