Compare towns
Johnston vs Dedham vs North 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).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
North Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Dedham | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
25,237 |
12,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Smithfield and Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and Dedham 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% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
| Dedham and North 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 7% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and North 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Dedham | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Dedham High | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.4 |
12.1Highest |
| 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.