What stands out worked out from the figures below

Valley Falls has the most kids (25% under 18).

North Smithfield has the most people working from home (14.2%).

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	Valley Falls	North Smithfield
People
Population	12,657Lowest	12,708Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Lowest RI: +4.3%	+5.2%Highest RI: +4.3%
Median age	41.7±3.5Lowest about the RI average	45.5±3.9Highest 12% above RI
	North Smithfield and Valley Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25%±4.4Highest RI: 18.8%	19.2%±3.2Lowest RI: 18.8%
	Valley Falls and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.6%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.7%	20.9%±2.8Highest RI: 18.7%
	North Smithfield and Valley Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Lowest RI: 37.7%	33.8%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±0.8Lowest RI: 8.3%	4.4%±1.3Highest RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,901±$17kLowest 6% above RI	$108,866±$12kHighest 24% above RI
	North Smithfield and Valley Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,200±$19kLowest 7% below RI	$457,200±$21kHighest 13% above RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,362±$142Highest about the RI average	$1,282±$531Lowest 4% below RI
	Valley Falls and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,397Lowest 10% below RI	$5,219Highest 7% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.4%±17.7Highest RI: 48%	33.6%±11.4Lowest RI: 48%
	Valley Falls and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest RI: 11.2%	4.8%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest RI: 63.6%	77.9%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr newer than RI	1972Highest 10 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 9% below RI	26 minHighest 4% above RI
Work from home	9.9%±4.4Lowest RI: 13%	14.2%±3.6Highest RI: 13%
	North Smithfield and Valley Falls 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	—	#13 of 38 in RI
School district	—	North Smithfield
High school in town	—	North Smitfield HS
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.