What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Smithfield has the most people working from home (14%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Webster	Smithfield
People
Population	17,748Lowest	22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	41.8±2.6Highest 7% above U.S.
	Smithfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S.	$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S.	$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S.	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Webster and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S.	$5,207Highest 67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#271 of 282 in MA	#8 of 38 in RI
School district	Webster	Smithfield
High school in town	Bartlett High School	Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	11.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.