Compare towns
Westerly vs 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 52.2).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 23,333Highest |
22,233Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI |
41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Smithfield and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8%Highest RI: 37.7% |
40%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.5Lowest RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $98,875±$5kLowest 13% above RI |
$102,077±$8kHighest 16% above RI |
| Smithfield and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,600±$15kHighest 15% above RI |
$446,400±$12kLowest 10% above RI |
| Westerly and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,257±$131Highest 6% below RI |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
| Westerly and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 21% below RI |
$5,207Highest 6% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±10.4Lowest RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
| Smithfield and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
6.2%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 11 yrs newer than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 5% below RI |
25 minHighest 4% below RI |
| Work from home | 11.5%±2.5Lowest RI: 13% |
14%±3.1Highest RI: 13% |
| Smithfield and Westerly 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 | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Westerly | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Westerly High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.