What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).

Richmond has the most kids (22% 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.

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

Measure	Smithfield	Richmond
People
Population	22,233Highest	8,142Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3%	+4%Highest RI: +4.3%
Median age	41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average	42.7±4.1Highest 5% above RI
	Richmond and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8%	22%±4.8Highest RI: 18.8%
	Richmond 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 RI: 18.7%	15.7%±3.2Lowest RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest RI: 37.7%	49.5%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3%	7.1%±2.9Lowest RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,077±$8kLowest 16% above RI	$124,653±$27kHighest 42% above RI
	Richmond 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±$12kHighest 10% above RI	$435,800±$22kLowest 8% above RI
	Smithfield and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI	$1,580±$777Highest 18% above RI
	Richmond and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,207Lowest 6% above RI	$6,362Highest 30% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48%	0%±42.9Lowest RI: 48%
	Smithfield and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest RI: 11.2%	3.2%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest RI: 63.6%	96.6%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 14 yrs newer than RI	1985Highest 23 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below RI	34 minHighest 33% above RI
Work from home	14%±3.1Highest RI: 13%	11%±3.8Lowest RI: 13%
	Smithfield and Richmond 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	#16 of 38 in RI
School district	Smithfield	Chariho
High school in town	Smithfield High School	Chariho High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Lowest	12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

RI 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.