Compare towns
Westerly vs Smithfield vs Hopkinton
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%).
Hopkinton has the most affordable homes ($404k 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 | Westerly | Smithfield | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,333Highest |
22,233 |
8,420Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+2.6% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI |
41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average |
46.1±3.9 14% above RI |
| Westerly and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±3.6Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
19.7%±3.6Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8%Highest RI: 37.7% |
40% RI: 37.7% |
34.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.5Lowest RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
6%±2.3 RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,875±$5k 13% above RI |
$102,077±$8kHighest 16% above RI |
$97,172±$12kLowest 11% 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±$12k 10% above RI |
$404,300±$29kLowest about the RI average |
| 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 |
$1,040±$441 23% below RI |
| Westerly and Hopkinton 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 |
$5,207 6% above RI |
$5,616Highest 15% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±10.4Lowest RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
52.3%±17.5 RI: 48% |
| Smithfield and Hopkinton 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% RI: 11.2% |
7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
79.6% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 11 yrs newer than RI |
1976 14 yrs newer than RI |
1977Highest 15 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 5% below RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
26 minHighest about the RI average |
| Work from home | 11.5%±2.5Lowest RI: 13% |
14%±3.1 RI: 13% |
14.4%±6.1Highest RI: 13% |
| Hopkinton and 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 | #25 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI | #11 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Westerly | Smithfield | Chariho |
| High school in town | Westerly High School | Smithfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.8Highest |
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| 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.