Compare towns
Smithfield vs Stow vs Lincoln
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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Lincoln has the most renters (27.9% rent).
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 | Stow | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233 |
7,165Lowest |
22,864Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.7±2.2 12% above U.S. |
| Stow and Lincoln 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% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Lincoln 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lincoln 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$104,821±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$450,600±$17k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,468±$152 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 67% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,751Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.4%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #8 of 38 in RI | #44 of 282 in MA | #21 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Nashoba | Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | None in town | Lincoln Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| 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.