Compare towns
Johnston vs Killingly vs Preston 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
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Preston | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
17,867 |
4,821Lowest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
| Preston 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%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Preston 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% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston 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% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Preston 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. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Preston 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. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Preston 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Killingly High School | None in town | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
— | 11.8Highest |
| 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.