Compare towns
Johnston vs Coventry vs Cranston 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
Johnston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Coventry has the highest household income ($103k).
Cranston has the most renters (32.4% rent).
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 | Johnston | Coventry | Cranston | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,835 |
35,907 |
83,250Highest |
22,233Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% RI: +4.3% |
+1.9%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI |
44±1.1 8% above RI |
39.6±0.9Lowest about the RI average |
41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
| Johnston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
18.2%±1.8 RI: 18.8% |
19.6%±1.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Cranston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
19.2%±1.6 RI: 18.7% |
16.8%±1.1Lowest 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+ | 28.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
31.2% RI: 37.7% |
36.4% RI: 37.7% |
40%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 RI: 8.3% |
5.5%±1.2Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.3%±0.8 RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 5% above RI |
$102,946±$8kHighest 17% above RI |
$90,206±$4kLowest about the RI average |
$102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
| Coventry and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13kLowest 12% below RI |
$356,200±$11k 12% below RI |
$378,300±$7k 6% below RI |
$446,400±$12kHighest 10% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 5% below RI |
$1,206±$155 10% below RI |
$1,375±$59Highest about the RI average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
| Cranston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,614Lowest 6% below RI |
$5,099 4% above RI |
$5,103 4% above RI |
$5,207Highest 6% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
51.5%±11.1 RI: 48% |
47.3%±6 RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
| Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% RI: 11.2% |
7.4% RI: 11.2% |
10.2%Highest RI: 11.2% |
6.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% RI: 63.6% |
82%Highest RI: 63.6% |
67.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
81.6% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 6 yrs newer than RI |
1973 11 yrs newer than RI |
1958Lowest 4 yrs older than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 7% below RI |
26 minHighest about the RI average |
24 min 5% below RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
11.3%±2.2 RI: 13% |
13%±1.2 RI: 13% |
14%±3.1Highest RI: 13% |
| Smithfield and Cranston 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 | #24 of 38 in RI | #27 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Coventry | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Coventry High School | Cranston High School West | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.3 |
15.4Highest |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.