What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k median).

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.

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

Measure	Westfield	Smithfield
People
Population	40,378Highest	22,233Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average	41.8±2.6Highest 7% above U.S.
	Smithfield and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.1%±2Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Westfield and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithfield and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,753±$6kLowest 9% above U.S.	$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,100±$11kLowest about the U.S. average	$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,117±$60Highest 21% below U.S.	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Westfield and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,746Lowest 52% above U.S.	$5,207Highest 67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.5%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	8.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#197 of 282 in MA	#8 of 38 in RI
School district	Westfield	Smithfield
High school in town	Westfield High	Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	11.8Lowest
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.