Compare towns
Smithfield vs Wolfeboro 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%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Bristol has the most renters (33.9% rent).
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 | Wolfeboro | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
6,571Lowest |
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±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
43±2.2 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Smithfield and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Smithfield 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. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above 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±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$485,000±$25k 46% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Bristol 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. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 67% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,393Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Bristol 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
11.1Lowest |
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.