Compare towns
Smithfield vs Plainfield vs Bristol
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 people working from home (14%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Bristol has the most renters (33.9% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
15,141Lowest |
22,220 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43±2.2Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Bristol and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$97,764±$8k 21% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Bristol 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. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 67% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,393Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest 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% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Bristol 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 | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Plainfield School District | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Plainfield High School | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
10.3Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| 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.