Compare towns
Smithfield vs Scituate vs Plainfield
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
10,517Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$112,315±$23kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| 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±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$449,300±$26kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| 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 28% below U.S. |
$1,489±$251Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Scituate and Plainfield 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. |
$5,265Highest 69% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Smithfield | Scituate | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Scituate High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
10.8 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.