Compare towns
Johnston vs Ogunquit vs Smithfield vs Providence
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Providence has the most renters (58.6% rent).
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 | Providence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,835 |
1,379Lowest |
22,233 |
191,767Highest |
| 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% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Providence and Johnston 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest 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% |
34.6% 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% |
14.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$68,119±$3kLowest 16% below 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. |
$362,200±$8k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
— | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average |
| Providence and Johnston 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% 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% |
48%±2.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 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. |
25 min 5% 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% |
14.3%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 38 in RI | — | #8 of 38 in RI | #36 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | — | Smithfield | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | — | Smithfield High School | Classical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 11.8 |
17.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.