What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).

Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Smithfield	Northbridge
People
Population	22,233Highest	16,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S.	43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.
	Northbridge and Smithfield 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%	21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Northbridge and Smithfield 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%	16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S.	$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Northbridge 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±$12kLowest 34% above U.S.	$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S.
	Northbridge and 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.	$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S.
	Northbridge and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,207Highest 67% above U.S.	$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield and Northbridge 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%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Northbridge and Smithfield 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	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Smithfield	Northbridge
High school in town	Smithfield High School	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.