Compare towns
Johnston vs North Smithfield vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
North Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | North Smithfield | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
12,708Lowest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+5.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 10% above RI |
45.5±3.9Highest 12% above RI |
41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average |
| 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%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
19.2%±3.2Highest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| 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%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
20.9%±2.8Lowest RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
| 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 RI: 37.7% |
33.8% RI: 37.7% |
40%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 RI: 8.3% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6kLowest 5% above RI |
$108,866±$12kHighest 24% above RI |
$102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
| North Smithfield 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±$13kLowest 12% below RI |
$457,200±$21kHighest 13% above RI |
$446,400±$12k 10% above RI |
| North Smithfield and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 5% below RI |
$1,282±$531Highest 4% below RI |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
| 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 6% below RI |
$5,219Highest 7% above RI |
$5,207 6% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7 RI: 48% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
| Smithfield and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
6.2% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
77.9% RI: 63.6% |
81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 6 yrs newer than RI |
1972 10 yrs newer than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 7% below RI |
26 minHighest 4% above RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
14.2%±3.6Highest RI: 13% |
14%±3.1 RI: 13% |
| North Smithfield and 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 | #13 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | North Smithfield | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | North Smitfield HS | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.