Compare towns
Smithfield vs Suffield vs Windsor Locks 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
Suffield has the highest household income ($119k).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Lincoln has the most kids (21.5% 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.
| Measure | Smithfield | Suffield | Windsor Locks | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233 |
15,702 |
12,579Lowest |
22,864Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±2.2 12% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lincoln and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$104,821±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Lincoln 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. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$450,600±$17kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Lincoln 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. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,468±$152Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Lincoln and Suffield 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. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,751 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.4%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #21 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Suffield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Suffield High School | Windsor Locks High School | Lincoln Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
10.9 |
8.9Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.