Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Johnston vs 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
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k 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.
| Measure | Bethlehem | Johnston | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
29,835Highest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Johnston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Highest 90% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Bethlehem 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #32 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Johnston | Smithfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Johnston Senior High | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| 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.