Compare towns

Woonsocket vs Montgomery 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).
Montgomery has the most homeowners (96.3%).
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.

MeasureWoonsocketMontgomeryNorth Smithfield
People
Population
43,521Highest
796Lowest
12,708
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
49.7±5.8Highest
28% above U.S.
45.5±3.9
17% above U.S.
Montgomery 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%
22%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Montgomery 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%
24.9%±7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Montgomery 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%
38.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket and North Smithfield 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.
$123,000±$19kHighest
52% above U.S.
$108,866±$12k
35% above U.S.
Montgomery 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.
$357,500±$29k
7% above U.S.
$457,200±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
—
$1,282±$531Highest
9% below U.S.
North Smithfield and Woonsocket 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.
$4,283
37% above U.S.
$5,219Highest
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
50%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.6%±11.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Montgomery 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%
1.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
11% above U.S.
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
North Smithfield and Montgomery 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 — #13 of 38 in RI
School district RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket — North Smithfield
High school in town Woonsocket High School — North Smitfield HS
Students per teacherat that high school
15.2Highest
—
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.