Compare towns
Warren vs Lancaster vs North Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the most renters (38.7% rent).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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.
| Measure | Warren | Lancaster | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,144 |
8,606Lowest |
12,708Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.9Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warren and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Smithfield and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,729±$12kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,700±$22kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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 4% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,282±$531Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,474 76% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,219Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.6%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 38 in RI | #145 of 282 in MA | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Highlander · Bristol Warren | Nashoba | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Highlander Secondary Charter S | None in town | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| 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.