Compare towns
Canton 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
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).
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 | Canton | Johnston | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
29,835Highest |
22,233Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±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 | $143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 282 in MA | #32 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Johnston | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Canton High | Johnston Senior High | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.