Compare towns
Johnston vs Glocester vs Killingly 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
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 | Glocester | Killingly | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
10,221Lowest |
17,867 |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Johnston 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% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Glocester 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±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Glocester and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,614 48% above U.S. |
$5,248Highest 68% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 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 30% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Glocester 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 | #12 of 38 in RI | #136 of 149 in CT | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Ponaganset High School | Killingly High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.1 |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.