Compare towns
Johnston vs Glocester vs North 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).
Glocester has the most homeowners (91%).
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 | Glocester | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
10,221Lowest |
12,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% RI: +4.3% |
+2.3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+5.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Lowest 10% above RI |
50.8±4.3Highest 25% above RI |
45.5±3.9 12% above RI |
| Glocester 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 RI: 18.8% |
19.8%±4.3Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.2%±3.2 RI: 18.8% |
| Glocester and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.6 RI: 18.7% |
22.2%±3.4Highest RI: 18.7% |
20.9%±2.8Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| 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%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
35.7%Highest RI: 37.7% |
33.8% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest RI: 8.3% |
4.4%±1.3 RI: 8.3% |
| Johnston and North Smithfield 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 5% above RI |
$113,508±$7kHighest 29% above RI |
$108,866±$12k 24% above RI |
| Glocester 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 12% below RI |
$396,500±$28k about the RI average |
$457,200±$21kHighest 13% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Lowest 5% below RI |
$1,417±$627Highest 6% above RI |
$1,282±$531 4% below RI |
| Glocester and North Smithfield 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 |
$5,248Highest 7% above RI |
$5,219 7% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7 RI: 48% |
64.5%±24Highest RI: 48% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest RI: 48% |
| Glocester 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 RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
91%Highest RI: 63.6% |
77.9% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 6 yrs newer than RI |
1975Highest 13 yrs newer than RI |
1972 10 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 7% below RI |
34 minHighest 35% above RI |
26 min 4% above RI |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
13.1%±4.7 RI: 13% |
14.2%±3.6Highest RI: 13% |
| North 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 | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Ponaganset High School | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.