What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).

Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.

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

Measure	Smithfield	Plainfield
People
Population	22,233Highest	15,141Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.8±2.6Highest 7% above U.S.	37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Smithfield and Plainfield 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%	19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield 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%	16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithfield and Plainfield 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%	15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S.	$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S.	$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S.
	Plainfield 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.	$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield and Plainfield 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%	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Smithfield and Plainfield 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	#131 of 149 in CT
School district	Smithfield	Plainfield School District
High school in town	Smithfield High School	Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.