Compare towns
Johnston vs North Smithfield vs Upton
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).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
12,708 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and North Smithfield 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% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and North Smithfield 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% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest 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% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston and North Smithfield 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. |
$108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% 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 | $4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and North 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 | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Johnston | North Smithfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | North Smitfield HS | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.