Compare towns
Smithfield vs Northbridge vs Coventry
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).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
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 | Northbridge | Coventry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233 |
16,458Lowest |
35,907Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44±1.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Coventry and Northbridge 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% |
18.2%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Coventry 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% |
19.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2%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% |
5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$102,946±$8k 28% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Coventry 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. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$356,200±$11kLowest 7% 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. |
$1,206±$155 15% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Coventry 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. |
$5,099 63% 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% |
51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Coventry 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | #24 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Northbridge | Coventry |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Northbridge High | Coventry High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
10.8Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.