Compare towns
Smithfield vs Wolfeboro 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 most homeowners (81.6%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233 |
6,571Lowest |
22,864Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
43.7±2.2 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lincoln and Smithfield 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% |
24%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$104,821±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Lincoln 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±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$450,600±$17k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,468±$152Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,751 52% 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% |
40.4%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Lincoln 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.4Lowest 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 | #21 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Lincoln Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
11.1Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.