The Town FilesNorth Smithfield, Rhode Island
Town in Providence County · population 12,588 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $457,200
- Household income
- $108,866
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 45.5
North Smithfield is a town of 12,588 people in Providence County, Rhode Island. The median home is worth $457,200, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850).
How North Smithfield ranks
Percentile among Rhode Island towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Rhode Island towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in North Smithfield is worth $457,200, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $108,866, which is more affordable than 61% of Rhode Island towns. Median rent is $1,282 a month. 77.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Smithfield | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $457,200 | $432,850 |
| Median rent | $1,282 | $1,362 |
| Median household income | $108,866 | $102,946 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 4.3× |
| Homeownership | 77.9% | 75.9% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in North Smithfield
| People | North Smithfield | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5 | 43.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.8% | 40.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.8% | 6.2% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 14.2% | 12.4% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.6% | 93.3% |
Weather in North Smithfield
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 18.8°F. About 51.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.5 inches of snow (typical Rhode Island town: 36.6 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Smithfield since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical Rhode Island town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 9, 1953 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 18, 2012.
Severe weather in Providence County since 1996
Providence County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for other, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4765: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4766: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| January 7, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4753: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| May 12, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4653: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 21, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3563: Hurricane Henri |
Jobs and pay in Providence County
Providence County had 288,107 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,852 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in North Smithfield itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in North Smithfield
3 public schools with 1,640 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Smithfield Elementary | PK-4 | 601 | 14.7 |
| North Smitfield HS | 9-12 | 547 | 12.7 |
| North Smithfield MS | 5-8 | 492 | 12.6 |
Towns near North Smithfield
- Woonsocket, RI2.9 mi · 43,240 people · home $311,000
- Cumberland Hill, RI4.3 mi · 8,140 people · home $394,300
- Blackstone, MA4.5 mi · 9,208 people · home $404,400
- Millville, MA4.6 mi · 3,174 people · home $444,600
- Smithfield, RI5.2 mi · 22,118 people · home $446,400
- Lincoln, RI6.4 mi · 22,529 people · home $450,600
- Cumberland, RI6.4 mi · 36,405 people · home $431,000
- Greenville, RI6.6 mi · 9,061 people · home $434,700
North Smithfield questions
Is North Smithfield, Rhode Island a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Smithfield scores better for retirees than 29% of Rhode Island towns and quieter than 60%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.5).
How much does a house cost in North Smithfield?
The median owner-occupied home in North Smithfield is valued at $457,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $108,866, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,282 a month.
What is the weather like in North Smithfield?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 18.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.9 inches of precipitation a year and 41.5 inches of snow.
Does North Smithfield get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Smithfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 9, 1953. The typical Rhode Island town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)