Compare towns
Johnston vs Scituate vs Sutton 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).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Scituate | Sutton | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
10,517 |
9,452Lowest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%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%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Scituate 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. |
$449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,489±$251Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| 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 48% above U.S. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 38 in RI | #17 of 38 in RI | #105 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Scituate | Sutton | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Scituate High School | Sutton High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.8 |
12.6Highest |
11.8 |
| 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.