Compare towns
Johnston vs Killingly vs North Smithfield vs Plainfield
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).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Killingly | North Smithfield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
17,867 |
12,708Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston and Plainfield 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. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below 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±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% 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 | $4,614 48% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,219Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Smithfield and Killingly 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #13 of 38 in RI | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Johnston | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | North Smithfield | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Killingly High School | North Smitfield HS | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
12.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.