Compare towns
Johnston vs Needham 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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
North Smithfield has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Needham | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835 |
32,459Highest |
12,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston and Needham 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 14% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | — | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | — | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 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.