What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).

Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

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	Windham
People
Population	22,233Highest	19,188Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±2.6 7% above U.S.	41.8±1.8 7% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2%	15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S.	$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S.
	Windham 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 34% above U.S.	$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S.
	Windham and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,207Highest 67% above U.S.	$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Windham 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	#95 of 133 in ME
School district	Smithfield	RSU 14
High school in town	Smithfield High School	Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.