Compare towns
Johnston vs Smithfield vs Townsend
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).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (14%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
22,233 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Townsend 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Johnston | Smithfield | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Smithfield High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.8 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.