Compare towns
Westerly vs Bristol 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
Westerly has the oldest population (median age 50.4).
Bristol has the most renters (33.9% rent).
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 | Westerly | Bristol | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,411 |
22,220Highest |
12,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% RI: +4.3% |
-2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+5.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 50.4±2.3Highest 24% above RI |
43±2.2Lowest 6% above RI |
45.5±3.9 12% above RI |
| Westerly and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest 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+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest RI: 18.7% |
22.9%±2 RI: 18.7% |
20.9%±2.8Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Westerly and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% RI: 37.7% |
47.6%Highest RI: 37.7% |
33.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 RI: 8.3% |
18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,207±$8kLowest 8% above RI |
$97,764±$8k 11% above RI |
$108,866±$12kHighest 24% above RI |
| North Smithfield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,800±$15kLowest 11% above RI |
$485,000±$25kHighest 20% above RI |
$457,200±$21k 13% above RI |
| Bristol and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,260±$132Lowest 6% below RI |
$1,579±$118Highest 18% above RI |
$1,282±$531 4% below RI |
| Bristol and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,784Lowest 23% below RI |
$5,393Highest 10% above RI |
$5,219 7% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±9.8Highest RI: 48% |
37.9%±8.1 RI: 48% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest RI: 48% |
| Westerly and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% RI: 11.2% |
6.5%Highest RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% RI: 63.6% |
66.1%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
77.9%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 10 yrs newer than RI |
1964Lowest 2 yrs newer than RI |
1972Highest 10 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 10% below RI |
25 min about the RI average |
26 minHighest 4% above RI |
| Work from home | 10.4%±2.8Lowest RI: 13% |
11.2%±2.7 RI: 13% |
14.2%±3.6Highest RI: 13% |
| North Smithfield and Bristol 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 | #25 of 38 in RI | #20 of 38 in RI | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | — | Bristol Warren | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | — | Mt. Hope High School | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Highest |
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.