Compare towns
Johnston vs Ogunquit 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Ogunquit | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
1,379Lowest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Johnston and Smithfield 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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 7% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
— | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Smithfield 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 38 in RI | — | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | — | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | — | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 11.8Highest |
| 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.