Compare towns
Smithfield vs Windsor vs Suffield vs Lincoln
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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Lincoln has the most kids (21.5% 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 | Windsor | Suffield | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233 |
29,468Highest |
15,702Lowest |
22,864 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.7±1.9 12% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±2.2 12% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Windsor 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% |
19.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lincoln and Windsor 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% |
20%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lincoln 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$104,725±$8k 30% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$104,821±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Lincoln 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. |
$305,200±$11kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$450,600±$17kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Lincoln 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 28% below U.S. |
$1,681±$62Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,468±$152 4% above U.S. |
| Windsor and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 67% above U.S. |
$5,351 72% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$4,751Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.4%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Windsor 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #21 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Suffield School District | Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Windsor High School | Suffield High School | Lincoln Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
10.2Lowest |
10.9 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.