Compare towns
Johnston vs Dover 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).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k 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 | Dover | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
2,308Lowest |
12,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
| Dover and North Smithfield 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% |
20.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and North Smithfield 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and North 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% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Johnston 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. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Lowest 10% below U.S. |
— | $1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Johnston 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 38 in RI | #1 of 282 in MA | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | — | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | — | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 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.