Compare towns

Smithfield vs Whitman vs Coventry

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 most people working from home (14%).
Whitman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($356k 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.

MeasureSmithfieldWhitmanCoventry
People
Population
22,233
15,295Lowest
35,907Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
40.4±1.8Lowest
4% above U.S.
44±1.1Highest
13% above U.S.
Coventry 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%
21.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
Whitman and Coventry 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%
15.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.2%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Smithfield and Coventry 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%
31.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,077±$8kLowest
26% above U.S.
$108,933±$14kHighest
35% above U.S.
$102,946±$8k
28% above U.S.
Whitman and Coventry 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.
$472,700±$12kHighest
42% above U.S.
$356,200±$11kLowest
7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,771±$151Highest
25% above U.S.
$1,206±$155
15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,207
67% above U.S.
$5,824Highest
87% above U.S.
$5,099Lowest
63% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±13.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.5%±11.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Whitman and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
14%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.3%±2.2
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #191 of 282 in MA #24 of 38 in RI
School district Smithfield Whitman-Hanson Coventry
High school in town Smithfield High School None in town Coventry High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8Lowest
—
12.3Highest
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.