What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westerly has the oldest population (median age 52.2).

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	Westerly
People
Population	22,233Lowest	23,333Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3%	+2.5%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average	52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8%	14.4%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.8%
	Smithfield and Westerly 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%	26.4%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest RI: 37.7%	45.8%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3%	5%±1.5Lowest RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,077±$8kHighest 16% above RI	$98,875±$5kLowest 13% above RI
	Smithfield and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,400±$12kLowest 10% above RI	$466,600±$15kHighest 15% above RI
	Westerly 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 24% below RI	$1,257±$131Highest 6% below RI
	Westerly and Smithfield 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	$3,847Lowest 21% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48%	46.6%±10.4Lowest RI: 48%
	Smithfield and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest RI: 11.2%	5.2%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Highest RI: 63.6%	74.7%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI	1973Lowest 11 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 4% below RI	24 minLowest 5% below RI
Work from home	14%±3.1Highest RI: 13%	11.5%±2.5Lowest RI: 13%
	Smithfield and Westerly 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	#25 of 38 in RI
School district	Smithfield	Westerly
High school in town	Smithfield High School	Westerly High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	9.6Lowest
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.