Compare towns
Central Falls vs Johnston vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Johnston has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Central Falls | Johnston | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,701 |
29,835Highest |
22,233Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 20% below RI |
44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI |
41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
| Johnston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
17.5%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 10.7%±2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
| 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+ | 10.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
28.9% RI: 37.7% |
40%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.1%±1.6 RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,285±$8kLowest 44% below RI |
$91,866±$6k 5% above RI |
$102,077±$8kHighest 16% above RI |
| Smithfield and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30kLowest 13% below RI |
$355,500±$13k 12% below RI |
$446,400±$12kHighest 10% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$75 11% below RI |
$1,275±$132Highest 5% below RI |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
| Johnston and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,744Lowest 24% below RI |
$4,614 6% below RI |
$5,207Highest 6% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2 RI: 48% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
| Smithfield and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 24.6%Highest RI: 11.2% |
7.9% RI: 11.2% |
6.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
75.9% RI: 63.6% |
81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 18 yrs older than RI |
1968 6 yrs newer than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 7% above RI |
24 minLowest 7% below RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest RI: 13% |
9.9%±2.3 RI: 13% |
14%±3.1Highest RI: 13% |
| Smithfield and Johnston 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 | #38 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Johnston | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | Johnston Senior High | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.