Compare towns
Johnston vs Hampton vs Smithfield vs Providence
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).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Providence has the most renters (58.6% rent).
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 | Hampton | Smithfield | Providence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,835 |
1,647Lowest |
22,233 |
191,767Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Providence and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$68,119±$3kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$362,200±$8k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average |
| Providence and Hampton 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. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±2.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Hampton 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Providence 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 | — | #8 of 38 in RI | #36 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Hampton School District | Smithfield | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | None in town | Smithfield High School | Classical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 11.8 |
17.2Highest |
| 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.