Compare towns
Warren vs Bristol vs North Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k median).
North Smithfield has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Warren | Bristol | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,144Lowest |
22,220Highest |
12,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% RI: +4.3% |
-2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+5.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 49±2.9Highest 21% above RI |
43±2.2Lowest 6% above RI |
45.5±3.9 12% above RI |
| Warren and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±2.2 RI: 18.8% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest RI: 18.8% |
19.2%±3.2Highest RI: 18.8% |
| North Smithfield and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.5Highest RI: 18.7% |
22.9%±2 RI: 18.7% |
20.9%±2.8Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Warren and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% RI: 37.7% |
47.6%Highest RI: 37.7% |
33.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.5Lowest RI: 8.3% |
18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.4%±1.3 RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,729±$12kLowest 3% above RI |
$97,764±$8k 11% above RI |
$108,866±$12kHighest 24% above RI |
| North Smithfield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,700±$22kLowest about the RI average |
$485,000±$25kHighest 20% above RI |
$457,200±$21k 13% above RI |
| Bristol and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,363±$96 about the RI average |
$1,579±$118Highest 18% above RI |
$1,282±$531Lowest 4% below RI |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,474Highest 12% above RI |
$5,393 10% above RI |
$5,219Lowest 7% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.6%±9.4Highest RI: 48% |
37.9%±8.1 RI: 48% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest RI: 48% |
| Warren and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
6.5% RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.3%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
66.1% RI: 63.6% |
77.9%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 12 yrs older than RI |
1964 2 yrs newer than RI |
1972Highest 10 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the RI average |
25 minLowest about the RI average |
26 minHighest 4% above RI |
| Work from home | 14.4%±3.3Highest RI: 13% |
11.2%±2.7Lowest RI: 13% |
14.2%±3.6 RI: 13% |
| Warren and North 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 | #31 of 38 in RI | #20 of 38 in RI | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Highlander · Bristol Warren | Bristol Warren | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Highlander Secondary Charter S | Mt. Hope High School | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
12.5 |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.