Compare towns
Coventry vs Johnston vs Putnam 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
Coventry has the highest household income ($103k).
Johnston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Coventry | Johnston | Putnam | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 35,907Highest |
29,835 |
9,292Lowest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±1.1 13% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest 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+ | 31.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,946±$8kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Coventry and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,200±$11k 7% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,206±$155 15% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099 63% above U.S. |
$4,614 48% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Coventry 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 | #24 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Coventry | Johnston | Putnam School District | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Coventry High School | Johnston Senior High | Putnam High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
10.3 |
9.5Lowest |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.