Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Exeter vs North Smithfield vs Pawtucket
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
North Smithfield has the most homeowners (77.9%).
Pawtucket has the oldest housing (typical home built 1947).
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 | Woonsocket | Exeter | North Smithfield | Pawtucket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,521 |
16,151 |
12,708Lowest |
75,893Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
37.1±0.8 5% below U.S. |
| Exeter and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and North Smithfield 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Pawtucket 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. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
$68,310±$4k 15% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$325,500±$8k about the U.S. average |
| North Smithfield and Exeter 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. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
$1,208±$39 15% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% above U.S. |
$4,115 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and North 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #22 of 120 in NH | #13 of 38 in RI | #35 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Smithfield | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Exeter High School | North Smitfield HS | William E. Tolman High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.1Lowest |
14.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.