Compare towns
Smithfield vs Willimantic vs Bristol
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k 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.
| Measure | Smithfield | Willimantic | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
18,096Lowest |
22,220 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
31.3±2.7Lowest 20% below U.S. |
43±2.2Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Bristol and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Willimantic and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
11%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Willimantic and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$45,962±$7kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$97,764±$8k 21% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Bristol 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. |
$190,900±$17kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,063±$68 25% below U.S. |
$1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 67% above U.S. |
$4,678Lowest 50% above U.S. |
$5,393Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Bristol 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 | — | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | — | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | — | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| 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.