Compare towns
Smithfield vs Putnam vs Lincoln
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%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Lincoln has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
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 | Putnam | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233 |
9,292Lowest |
22,864Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lincoln and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lincoln 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$104,821±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Lincoln 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$450,600±$17kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Lincoln 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. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,468±$152Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,751 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.4%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Lincoln 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Lincoln 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #21 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Putnam School District | Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Putnam High School | Lincoln Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
9.5Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.