Compare towns
Smithfield vs Putnam vs North Smithfield
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).
North Smithfield has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
9,292Lowest |
12,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Smithfield and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and North Smithfield 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% 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% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield 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. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield 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. |
$1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 67% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,219Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Putnam 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Smithfield 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Putnam School District | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Putnam High School | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
9.5Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| 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.