What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

Warwick has the most affordable homes ($355k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Smithfield	Warwick
People
Population	22,233Lowest	83,175Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3%	+0.2%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average	44.3±1Highest 9% above RI
	Warwick and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8%	17.6%±1.1Highest RI: 18.8%
	Warwick and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.7%	21.6%±1.2Highest RI: 18.7%
	Warwick 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%	33.7%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3%	5.6%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,077±$8kHighest 16% above RI	$88,708±$6kLowest about the RI average
	Smithfield and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,400±$12kHighest 10% above RI	$354,600±$5kLowest 12% below RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI	$1,363±$76Highest about the RI average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,207Highest 6% above RI	$4,616Lowest 6% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48%	53.1%±6.1Lowest RI: 48%
	Smithfield and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest RI: 11.2%	7.6%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Highest RI: 63.6%	73.3%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI	1961Lowest 1 yr older than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 min 4% below RI	25 min 4% below RI
Work from home	14%±3.1Highest RI: 13%	12.4%±1.2Lowest RI: 13%
	Smithfield and Warwick 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	#28 of 38 in RI
School district	Smithfield	Warwick
High school in town	Smithfield High School	Pilgrim High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	10.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.