Compare towns
Johnston vs Scituate 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).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Scituate | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
10,517Lowest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% RI: +4.3% |
+0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 10% above RI |
49.9±4Highest 23% above RI |
41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average |
| Scituate and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
| 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 RI: 18.7% |
25.2%±4.3Highest RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Scituate and Johnston 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% |
34.7% RI: 37.7% |
40%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 RI: 8.3% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6kLowest 5% above RI |
$112,315±$23kHighest 28% above RI |
$102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
| Scituate 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 |
$449,300±$26kHighest 11% above RI |
$446,400±$12k 10% above RI |
| Scituate 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 |
$1,489±$251Highest 11% above RI |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
| Scituate 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 |
$5,265Highest 7% above RI |
$5,207 6% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
59.6%±25.9Highest RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7 RI: 48% |
| Scituate and Smithfield 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% |
5%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
6.2% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
87.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
81.6% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 6 yrs newer than RI |
1966Lowest 4 yrs newer than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 7% below RI |
31 minHighest 20% above RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
13.3%±5.1 RI: 13% |
14%±3.1Highest RI: 13% |
| Smithfield and Scituate 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 | #17 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Scituate | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Scituate High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.8 |
11.8Highest |
| 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.