Compare towns
Smithfield vs Scituate vs Coventry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
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).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
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 | Scituate | Coventry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233 |
10,517Lowest |
35,907Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+1.9% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average |
49.9±4Highest 23% above RI |
44±1.1 8% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest RI: 18.8% |
18.2%±1.8Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Coventry 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 RI: 18.7% |
25.2%±4.3Highest RI: 18.7% |
19.2%±1.6Lowest 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% RI: 37.7% |
31.2%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
5.5%±1.2 RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8kLowest 16% above RI |
$112,315±$23kHighest 28% above RI |
$102,946±$8k 17% above RI |
| Scituate and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,400±$12k 10% above RI |
$449,300±$26kHighest 11% above RI |
$356,200±$11kLowest 12% below 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 |
$1,206±$155 10% below RI |
| Scituate and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 6% above RI |
$5,265Highest 7% above RI |
$5,099Lowest 4% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 RI: 48% |
59.6%±25.9Highest RI: 48% |
51.5%±11.1Lowest 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% RI: 11.2% |
5%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
7.4%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
87.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
82% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
1966Lowest 4 yrs newer than RI |
1973 11 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below RI |
31 minHighest 20% above RI |
26 min about the RI average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Highest RI: 13% |
13.3%±5.1 RI: 13% |
11.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | #24 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Scituate | Coventry |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Scituate High School | Coventry High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
10.8Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.