Compare towns

Woonsocket vs Willington 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).
Willington has the most affordable homes ($306k median).
North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k median).

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.

MeasureWoonsocketWillingtonNorth Smithfield
People
Population
43,521Highest
5,575Lowest
12,708
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+5.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
37.5±7.2
4% below U.S.
45.5±3.9Highest
17% above U.S.
North Smithfield and Willington 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%
12.8%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and North Smithfield 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%
23.3%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Willington 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%
33.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
14.6%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$91,114±$12k
13% above U.S.
$108,866±$12kHighest
35% above U.S.
North Smithfield and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$311,000±$15k
7% below U.S.
$305,800±$48kLowest
8% below U.S.
$457,200±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,357±$116Highest
4% below U.S.
$1,282±$531
9% below U.S.
Willington 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.
$5,419Highest
74% above U.S.
$5,219
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
70%±20.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.6%±11.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Willington 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%
13%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
64%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
North Smithfield and Willington 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 #104 of 149 in CT #13 of 38 in RI
School district RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Willington School District North Smithfield
High school in town Woonsocket High School None in town 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.