Compare towns
Smithfield vs Orange vs Plainville
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).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Orange | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
14,315Lowest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.6±2.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Orange and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange 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% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$142,325±$10kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$491,500±$17kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 67% above U.S. |
$8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±12.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orange and Smithfield 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% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Smithfield | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.