Compare towns

Smithfield vs Webster vs North Smithfield

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).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
North Smithfield has the oldest population (median age 45.5).

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.

MeasureSmithfieldWebsterNorth Smithfield
People
Population
22,233Highest
17,748
12,708Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.5±3.9Highest
17% above U.S.
North Smithfield 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
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Webster and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Smithfield and North 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%
25.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,077±$8k
26% above U.S.
$72,895±$6kLowest
10% below U.S.
$108,866±$12kHighest
35% above U.S.
North Smithfield 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.
$361,500±$12kLowest
9% above U.S.
$457,200±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
North Smithfield 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.
$1,228±$81
13% below U.S.
$1,282±$531Highest
9% below U.S.
North Smithfield and Webster 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.
$3,999Lowest
28% above U.S.
$5,219Highest
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±6.7
U.S.: 51.1%
33.6%±11.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Smithfield and Webster 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%
12.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
14%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
North Smithfield 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 #271 of 282 in MA #13 of 38 in RI
School district Smithfield Webster North Smithfield
High school in town Smithfield High School Bartlett High School North Smitfield HS
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8
11.6Lowest
12.1Highest
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.