Compare towns
Johnston vs Smithfield vs Windsor Locks
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 expensive homes ($446k median).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
22,233 |
12,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest 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% |
28.6%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% |
5.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor Locks and Johnston 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Smithfield 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Johnston | Smithfield | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Smithfield High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
11.8Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.