Compare towns
Johnston vs Needham 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
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Smithfield has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835 |
32,459Highest |
22,233Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Needham | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Needham High | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.8 |
| 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.