What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).

North Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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	Townsend	North Smithfield
People
Population	9,100Lowest	12,708Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.	45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S.
	North Smithfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Townsend and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Smithfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Townsend and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.	$108,866±$12kLowest 35% above U.S.
	Townsend and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S.	$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
	North Smithfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,282±$531Lowest 9% below U.S.
	Townsend and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.	$5,219Lowest 67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townsend and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Smithfield and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA	#13 of 38 in RI
School district	North Middlesex	North Smithfield
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	North Smitfield HS
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	12.1Lowest
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.