Compare towns
Johnston vs Blackstone 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
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Johnston | Blackstone | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
9,255Lowest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Blackstone and Smithfield 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 | #207 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Blackstone-Millville | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Blackstone Millville RHS | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
13.6Highest |
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.