Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Smithfield vs East Providence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).
East Providence has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Smithfield | East Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,521 |
22,233Lowest |
47,281Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2% RI: +4.3% |
+0.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3Lowest 12% below RI |
41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
45.1±2.4Highest 11% above RI |
| East Providence and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±2Highest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
15.6%±1.8Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±1.4Lowest RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1Highest RI: 18.7% |
20.8%±1.5 RI: 18.7% |
| Smithfield and East Providence 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 RI: 37.7% |
40%Highest RI: 37.7% |
31.6% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9 RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,059±$5kLowest 30% below RI |
$102,077±$8kHighest 16% above RI |
$75,912±$8k 14% below RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,000±$15kLowest 23% below RI |
$446,400±$12kHighest 10% above RI |
$365,500±$10k 10% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,161±$48 13% below RI |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,288±$75Highest 4% below RI |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,960Lowest 19% below RI |
$5,207Highest 6% above RI |
$4,545 7% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4Lowest RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
48.5%±6.5 RI: 48% |
| Smithfield and East Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
6.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
10.1% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
59.9% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 10 yrs older than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
1958 4 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 15% above RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
23 minLowest 11% below RI |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7Lowest RI: 13% |
14%±3.1Highest RI: 13% |
12.4%±2.6 RI: 13% |
| Smithfield and East Providence 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #29 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Smithfield | East Providence |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Smithfield High School | East Providence High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2 |
11.8Lowest |
15.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.