Town · Rhode Island

North Smithfield, Rhode Island

North Smithfield, town, in Providence County, Rhode Island. North Smithfield had 12,990 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 12,588 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 12,708 (±33). GEOID 4400752480.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

12,990

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 12,588 · ACS 2020-2024: 12,708 ±33

Median household income

$108,866

±$12,302 (90% margin)
Rhode Island: $87,796

Median home value

$457,200

±$21,065 (90% margin)
Rhode Island: $404,200

Median gross rent

$1,282

±$531 (90% margin)
Rhode Island: $1,342

Where is North Smithfield and what county is it in?

North Smithfield is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island. It covers 23.9 square miles of land, 527 residents per square mile in 2020.

North Smithfield is in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 6 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

North Smithfield (marked with a dot) in Providence County, Rhode Island. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in North Smithfield, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 12,990 people lived in North Smithfield on July 1, 2025, up 3.2% since 2020, faster than Rhode Island (+1.6%). The 2020 Census counted 12,588 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 12,708 (±33).

  • July 2020→2021 +4 (12,588)
  • 2021→2022 +50 (12,638)
  • 2022→2023 +55 (12,693)
  • 2023→2024 +178 (12,871)
  • 2024→2025 +119 (12,990)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureNorth SmithfieldProvidence CountyRhode IslandChange since 2015-2019
Total population12,708±33664,8541,101,801+295
Households5,015±310259,210441,570no clear change
Average household size2.48±0.152.462.39no clear change
Housing units5,240±343277,740485,932no clear change

North Smithfield's population since 2000

From 10,618 in 2000 to 12,990 in 2025: up 22.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for North Smithfield as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 10,618
  • 2005 (estimate) 11,544
  • 2010 Census 11,967
  • 2015 (estimate) 12,303
  • 2020 Census 12,588
  • 2025 (estimate) 12,990

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in North Smithfield?

The median resident of North Smithfield is 45.5 years old; 19.2% are under 18 and 20.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 2.2%. 4.2% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureNorth SmithfieldProvidence CountyRhode IslandChange since 2015-2019
Median age45.5±3.938.040.6no clear change
Under 18 years19.2%±2.5 pts20.1%18.8%–
65 years and over20.9%±2.7 pts16.3%18.7%–
Male50.0%±2.3 pts49.1%49.1%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)2.2%±1.5 pts25.6%17.7%–
White alone, not Hispanic94.6%±2.0 pts56.5%68.0%no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic0.4%±0.5 pts7.0%4.9%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic1.2%±1.0 pts4.2%3.5%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.4 pts0.2%0.1%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.2%±0.3 pts0.1%0.1%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic1.2%±0.7 pts5.4%4.9%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.3%±0.4 pts1.1%0.8%–
Born outside the United States4.2%±1.5 pts20.9%15.3%no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)7.2%±2.4 pts32.6%23.1%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)8.1%±2.7 pts4.0%5.1%–
With a disability15.0%±3.2 pts14.4%13.8%–
No health insurance coverage2.1%±1.5 pts5.4%4.4%–
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)94.4%±1.7 pts86.4%89.7%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)33.8%±3.8 pts32.3%37.7%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)11.6%±2.4 pts12.6%15.4%–
Lived in the same house a year earlier93.5%±2.4 pts87.9%88.9%–
Moved from another state in the past year1.4%±1.1 pts3.5%3.5%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in North Smithfield earn?

Half of North Smithfield's 5,015 households earn less than $108,866 a year (±$12,302), against $78,787 in Providence County and $87,796 in Rhode Island. In 2015-2019 it was $96,753 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 4.8% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
MeasureNorth SmithfieldProvidence CountyRhode IslandChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$108,866±$12,302$78,787$87,796no clear change
Mean household income$132,787±$10,807$103,330$115,075–
Per capita income$53,528±$5,205$41,523$47,150no clear change
People below the poverty line4.8%±2.0 pts13.4%11.2%no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line3.7%±5.7 pts17.3%13.7%–
Households receiving SNAP7.1%±3.8 pts17.8%14.0%–
Households with a computer96.6%±1.5 pts94.0%94.7%–
Households with a broadband subscription93.6%±2.5 pts90.5%91.7%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in North Smithfield?

Owners occupy 77.9% of North Smithfield's occupied homes and renters 22.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $457,200 by its owner (±$21,065). The median renter pays $1,282 a month including utilities, and 24.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
MeasureNorth SmithfieldProvidence CountyRhode IslandChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$457,200±$21,065$373,600$404,200+$93,038
Median gross rent$1,282±$531$1,312$1,342no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent24.8%±12.7 pts37.0%37.8%no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$2,428±$139$2,152$2,234–
Owner-occupied homes77.9%±5.6 pts56.9%63.6%no clear change
Renter-occupied homes22.1%±5.6 pts43.1%36.4%–
Housing units5,240±343277,740485,932no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate1.7%±1.9 pts0.6%0.6%–
Rental vacancy rate0.0%±4.4 pts4.0%4.2%–
Single-family detached homes68.0%±4.7 pts45.5%55.7%–
Mobile homes0.0%±0.9 pts0.5%0.9%–
Built 2020 or later0.3%±0.4 pts0.6%0.7%–
Built 2010 to 20196.6%±2.7 pts3.3%3.7%–
Built 1939 or earlier19.0%±4.8 pts35.9%30.1%–
Households with no vehicle2.8%±1.9 pts11.5%9.1%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is North Smithfield building?

Builders took permits for 4 new housing units in North Smithfield in 2025 (4 in single-family houses), 0.3 per 1,000 residents against 1.6 across Rhode Island.

  • 2019 28 units
  • 2020 (9 months) 16 units
  • 2021 9 units
  • 2022 11 units
  • 2023 7 units
  • 2024 37 units
  • 2025 4 units

Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in North Smithfield work and get to work?

78.6% of North Smithfield's workers drive alone and 14.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.4 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
MeasureNorth SmithfieldProvidence CountyRhode IslandChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)67.9%±3.9 pts65.6%65.0%–
Unemployment rate2.5%±2.0 pts6.6%5.8%–
Drove alone to work78.6%±4.8 pts70.7%72.4%–
Carpooled4.4%±1.8 pts8.8%7.7%–
Public transportation0.0%±0.7 pts2.3%1.7%–
Walked2.4%±2.5 pts3.1%2.8%–
Worked from home14.2%±3.8 pts12.3%13.0%+6.3 pts
Mean travel time to work26.4 min±3.025.9 min25.5 minno clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in North Smithfield?

3 census tracts lie mostly in North Smithfield (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $102,159 (Tract 128.03) to $111,092 (Tract 128.01).

Census tracts in North Smithfield, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in North Smithfield
Tract 128.03Providence County5,298 $102,159 $468,300100%
Tract 128.01Providence County4,762 $111,092 $472,300100%
Tract 128.02Providence County2,648 $107,974 $383,700100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in North Smithfield) · Census block assignment files

How does North Smithfield compare with other places in Rhode Island?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, North Smithfield is the 968th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 19th-most populous of 31 in Rhode Island.

North Smithfield ranks 21st of 57 places in Rhode Island with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

North Smithfield's rank in Rhode Island (1 = highest): by population among the state's towns and townships with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate19th31
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)9th39
Residents per square mile44th57
Median household income21st57
Per capita income22nd57
Median home value22nd56
Median gross rent33rd51
Poverty rate31st45
Bachelor's degree or higher42nd57
Median age24th57
Owner-occupied share26th56
Work from home20th49
Travel time to work22nd57

North Smithfield's figures with every place in Rhode Island (CSV)

Every place in Rhode Island, sortable · Compare North Smithfield with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for North Smithfield?

17 of the 57 figures for North Smithfield on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for North Smithfield are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.