Compare towns
Warwick vs Smithfield vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warwick has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Warwick | Smithfield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,175Highest |
22,233 |
15,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±1Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Warwick and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±1.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±1.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warwick and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,708±$6k 10% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Smithfield and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $354,600±$5k 7% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,363±$76Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,616 48% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.4%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Warwick 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 | #28 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Warwick | Smithfield | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Pilgrim High School | Smithfield High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
11.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.