Compare towns
Johnston vs Hatfield 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).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Hatfield | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
3,325Lowest |
12,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.8±5Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
| Hatfield 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%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Smithfield and Johnston 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% |
23.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hatfield 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% |
48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$89,005±$25kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Johnston 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. |
$440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216Lowest 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. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
$5,219Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hatfield and Johnston 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Highest 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 min 11% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hatfield 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Hatfield | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Smith Academy | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
6.1Lowest |
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.