What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).

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	Scituate
People
Population	22,233Highest	10,517Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3%	+0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average	49.9±4Highest 23% above RI
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8%	14.9%±3.3Lowest RI: 18.8%
	Smithfield and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.7%	25.2%±4.3Highest RI: 18.7%
	Scituate 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%Highest RI: 37.7%	34.7%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3%	4.2%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,077±$8kLowest 16% above RI	$112,315±$23kHighest 28% above RI
	Scituate 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±$12kLowest 10% above RI	$449,300±$26kHighest 11% above RI
	Scituate 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 24% below RI	$1,489±$251Highest 11% above RI
	Scituate 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	$5,265Highest 7% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±17.7Lowest RI: 48%	59.6%±25.9Highest RI: 48%
	Scituate and Smithfield 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%	5%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest RI: 63.6%	87.3%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI	1966Lowest 4 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below RI	31 minHighest 20% above RI
Work from home	14%±3.1Highest RI: 13%	13.3%±5.1Lowest RI: 13%
	Smithfield and Scituate 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	#17 of 38 in RI
School district	Smithfield	Scituate
High school in town	Smithfield High School	Scituate High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.