Compare towns
Johnston vs Smithfield vs Webster
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 oldest population (median age 44.5).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (14%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
22,233 |
17,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest 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% |
5.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| 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 7% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Webster 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. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% 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% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Webster 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% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Johnston 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 | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Johnston | Smithfield | Webster |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Smithfield High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.8Highest |
11.6 |
| 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.