Compare towns
Danielson 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
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Danielson | Johnston | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,209Lowest |
29,835Highest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Danielson and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±4.9Lowest 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+ | 11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.2%±6.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Smithfield and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,235±$194 13% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,009Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$4,614 48% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #32 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | — | Johnston | Smithfield |
| High school 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.