Compare towns
Smithfield vs Suffield vs Wolcott vs Bristol
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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Bristol has the most renters (33.9% 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 | Suffield | Wolcott | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
15,702Lowest |
16,279 |
22,220 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.4±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43±2.2 11% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Wolcott 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%±2 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wolcott 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$110,850±$10k 37% above U.S. |
$97,764±$8kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Wolcott 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. |
$326,200±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,464±$913 4% above U.S. |
$1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Bristol and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$5,799 86% above U.S. |
$5,393 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.8%±24.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Suffield 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Smithfield 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 | #76 of 149 in CT | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Suffield School District | Wolcott School District | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Suffield High School | Wolcott High School | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
10.9 |
10.1Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| 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.