Compare towns
Smithfield vs Northbridge vs Windsor Locks
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%).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
16,458 |
12,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6%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% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below 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±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor Locks and Northbridge 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. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Northbridge 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 | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Smithfield | Northbridge | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Northbridge High | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
10.8 |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.