Compare towns
Smithfield vs West Warwick vs Coventry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
West Warwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Coventry has the most kids (18.2% 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 | West Warwick | Coventry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Lowest |
31,173 |
35,907Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% RI: +4.3% |
+6.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+1.9%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average |
42.8±1.5 5% above RI |
44±1.1Highest 8% above RI |
| Coventry and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
15.7%±2.3Lowest RI: 18.8% |
18.2%±1.8Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Coventry and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1Highest RI: 18.7% |
20%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
19.2%±1.6Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Smithfield and West Warwick 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% |
26.4%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
31.2% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
5.7%±1.3 RI: 8.3% |
5.5%±1.2Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
$77,608±$7kLowest 12% below RI |
$102,946±$8kHighest 17% above RI |
| Coventry 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±$12kHighest 10% above RI |
$330,800±$12kLowest 18% below RI |
$356,200±$11k 12% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,303±$74Highest about the RI average |
$1,206±$155 10% below RI |
| West Warwick and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Highest 6% above RI |
$4,962Lowest about the RI average |
$5,099 4% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
43.5%±7.8Lowest RI: 48% |
51.5%±11.1 RI: 48% |
| Smithfield and Coventry 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% |
9.6%Highest RI: 11.2% |
7.4% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% RI: 63.6% |
57%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
82%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
1968Lowest 6 yrs newer than RI |
1973 11 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below RI |
25 min about the RI average |
26 minHighest about the RI average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Highest RI: 13% |
7.2%±2Lowest RI: 13% |
11.3%±2.2 RI: 13% |
| Smithfield and Coventry 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 | #33 of 38 in RI | #24 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | West Warwick | Coventry |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | West Warwick High School | Coventry High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
13.0Highest |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.