Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Lowell 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 affordable homes ($311k median).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
North Smithfield has the most homeowners (77.9%).
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 | Lowell | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,521 |
118,368Highest |
12,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Lowell 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Lowell 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. |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
| Lowell 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. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
$5,219Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell 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% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 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 6% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Smithfield and Lowell 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Lowell | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Lowell High | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
14.8 |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.