Compare towns
Johnston vs Smithfield vs Providence
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 oldest population (median age 44.5).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Smithfield | Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835 |
22,233Lowest |
191,767Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2% RI: +4.3% |
+7.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI |
41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
32.8±0.5Lowest 19% below RI |
| Johnston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
20.1%±1Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Providence and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Johnston and 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 RI: 37.7% |
40%Highest RI: 37.7% |
34.6% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6Lowest RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
14.4%±0.8 RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 5% above RI |
$102,077±$8kHighest 16% above RI |
$68,119±$3kLowest 22% below RI |
| Smithfield and Johnston 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 |
$446,400±$12kHighest 10% above RI |
$362,200±$8k 10% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 5% below RI |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,408±$42Highest 5% above RI |
| 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 6% below RI |
$5,207Highest 6% above RI |
$4,418Lowest 10% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
48%±2.8 RI: 48% |
| 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% RI: 11.2% |
6.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
20.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% RI: 63.6% |
81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
41.4%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 6 yrs newer than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
1938Lowest 24 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 7% below RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
25 minHighest about the RI average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
14%±3.1 RI: 13% |
14.3%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
| Providence and 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 | #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 |
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.