Compare towns
Warren vs Westerly 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 renters (38.7% rent).
Westerly has the oldest population (median age 52.2).
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 | Westerly | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,144Lowest |
23,333Highest |
12,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% RI: +4.3% |
+2.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+5.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 49±2.9 21% above RI |
52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI |
45.5±3.9Lowest 12% above RI |
| Westerly and Warren 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% |
14.4%±2.1 RI: 18.8% |
19.2%±3.2Highest RI: 18.8% |
| North Smithfield and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.5 RI: 18.7% |
26.4%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
20.9%±2.8Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Westerly and Warren 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% |
45.8%Highest RI: 37.7% |
33.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.5Lowest RI: 8.3% |
5%±1.5Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.4%±1.3 RI: 8.3% |
| Westerly 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±$12kLowest 3% above RI |
$98,875±$5k 13% above RI |
$108,866±$12kHighest 24% above RI |
| North Smithfield and Westerly 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 |
$466,600±$15kHighest 15% above RI |
$457,200±$21k 13% above RI |
| Westerly 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±$96Highest about the RI average |
$1,257±$131Lowest 6% 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 |
$3,847Lowest 21% below RI |
$5,219 7% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.6%±9.4Highest RI: 48% |
46.6%±10.4 RI: 48% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest RI: 48% |
| Warren and Westerly 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% |
5.2% RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.3%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
74.7% RI: 63.6% |
77.9%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 12 yrs older than RI |
1973Highest 11 yrs newer than RI |
1972 10 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the RI average |
24 minLowest 5% below RI |
26 minHighest 4% above RI |
| Work from home | 14.4%±3.3Highest RI: 13% |
11.5%±2.5Lowest 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 | #25 of 38 in RI | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Highlander · Bristol Warren | Westerly | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Highlander Secondary Charter S | Westerly High School | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
9.6Lowest |
12.1 |
| 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.