Compare towns

Smithfield vs Woonsocket vs Coventry

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Coventry has the oldest population (median age 44).

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.

MeasureSmithfieldWoonsocketCoventry
People
Population
22,233Lowest
43,521Highest
35,907
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
RI: +4.3%
+5%Highest
RI: +4.3%
+1.9%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
Median age
41.8±2.6
about the RI average
35.7±1.3Lowest
12% below RI
44±1.1Highest
8% above RI
Coventry and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±2.4Lowest
RI: 18.8%
23.3%±2Highest
RI: 18.8%
18.2%±1.8
RI: 18.8%
Age 65+
21.1%±2.1Highest
RI: 18.7%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
RI: 18.7%
19.2%±1.6
RI: 18.7%
Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%Highest
RI: 37.7%
19.8%Lowest
RI: 37.7%
31.2%
RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
16.7%±0.9Highest
RI: 8.3%
5.1%±0.9Lowest
RI: 8.3%
5.5%±1.2
RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,077±$8k
16% above RI
$61,059±$5kLowest
30% below RI
$102,946±$8kHighest
17% above RI
Coventry 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
10% above RI
$311,000±$15kLowest
23% below RI
$356,200±$11k
12% below RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,016±$241Lowest
24% below RI
$1,161±$48
13% below RI
$1,206±$155Highest
10% below RI
Coventry and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,207Highest
6% above RI
$3,960Lowest
19% below RI
$5,099
4% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±17.7Highest
RI: 48%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
RI: 48%
51.5%±11.1
RI: 48%
Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%Lowest
RI: 11.2%
18.7%Highest
RI: 11.2%
7.4%
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.6%
RI: 63.6%
37.2%Lowest
RI: 63.6%
82%Highest
RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
14 yrs newer than RI
1952Lowest
10 yrs older than RI
1973
11 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
4% below RI
29 minHighest
15% above RI
26 min
about the RI average
Work from home
14%±3.1Highest
RI: 13%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
RI: 13%
11.3%±2.2
RI: 13%
Smithfield and Coventry 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 #37 of 38 in RI #24 of 38 in RI
School district Smithfield RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Coventry
High school in town Smithfield High School Woonsocket High School Coventry High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8Lowest
15.2Highest
12.3
On TownTapestry
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RI 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.