Compare towns
Warren vs Pawtucket 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 oldest population (median age 49).
Pawtucket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
North Smithfield has the most homeowners (77.9%).
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 | Pawtucket | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,144Lowest |
75,893Highest |
12,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+6.3%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+5.2% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 49±2.9Highest 21% above RI |
37.1±0.8Lowest 9% below 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%±2.2Lowest RI: 18.8% |
22.4%±1.6Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.2%±3.2 RI: 18.8% |
| Pawtucket and North Smithfield 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% |
14.5%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
20.9%±2.8 RI: 18.7% |
| 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%Highest RI: 37.7% |
22.2%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
33.8% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.5Lowest RI: 8.3% |
5.6%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.4%±1.3 RI: 8.3% |
| Pawtucket 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 | $90,729±$12k 3% above RI |
$68,310±$4kLowest 22% below RI |
$108,866±$12kHighest 24% above RI |
| North Smithfield and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,700±$22k about the RI average |
$325,500±$8kLowest 19% below RI |
$457,200±$21kHighest 13% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,363±$96Highest about the RI average |
$1,208±$39Lowest 10% below RI |
$1,282±$531 4% below RI |
| Warren and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,474Highest 12% above RI |
$4,115Lowest 16% below RI |
$5,219 7% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.6%±9.4Highest RI: 48% |
45.9%±4.4 RI: 48% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest RI: 48% |
| Warren and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% RI: 11.2% |
13.3%Highest RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.3% RI: 63.6% |
50.1%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
77.9%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 12 yrs older than RI |
1947Lowest 15 yrs older than RI |
1972Highest 10 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the RI average |
26 min about the RI average |
26 minHighest 4% above RI |
| Work from home | 14.4%±3.3Highest RI: 13% |
9.2%±1.5Lowest 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 | #35 of 38 in RI | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Highlander · Bristol Warren | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Highlander Secondary Charter S | William E. Tolman High | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
14.6 |
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.