Compare towns
Johnston vs Suffield vs North Smithfield vs Cranston
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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Cranston has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Suffield | North Smithfield | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,835 |
15,702 |
12,708Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| North Smithfield 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cranston and North Smithfield 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% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and North 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% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cranston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
$90,206±$4kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Suffield and North 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. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$378,300±$7k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
$1,375±$59 about the U.S. average |
| Suffield and Cranston 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. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% above U.S. |
$5,103 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suffield and Cranston 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and North 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #13 of 38 in RI | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Suffield School District | North Smithfield | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Suffield High School | North Smitfield HS | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.9 |
12.1 |
15.4Highest |
| 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.