Compare towns

Woonsocket vs Avon vs North Smithfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Avon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
North Smithfield has the most people working from home (14.2%).

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.

MeasureWoonsocketAvonNorth Smithfield
People
Population
43,521Highest
4,774Lowest
12,708
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
37.5±4
4% below U.S.
45.5±3.9Highest
17% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±4.7
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
North Smithfield and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
7.6%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Avon and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$130,625±$33kHighest
62% above U.S.
$108,866±$12k
35% above U.S.
Avon and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$509,600±$62kHighest
53% above U.S.
$457,200±$21k
37% above U.S.
Avon and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,558±$265Highest
10% above U.S.
$1,282±$531
9% below U.S.
Avon and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$6,627Highest
112% above U.S.
$5,219
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
53.3%±24.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.6%±11.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Avon and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1954
26 yrs older than U.S.
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
North Smithfield and Avon 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 #37 of 38 in RI #212 of 282 in MA #13 of 38 in RI
School district RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Avon North Smithfield
High school in town Woonsocket High School Avon Middle High School North Smitfield HS
Students per teacherat that high school
15.2Highest
9.4Lowest
12.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.