Compare towns
Johnston vs Suffield vs 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%).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Cranston has the most kids (19.6% 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 | Suffield | Smithfield | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,835 |
15,702Lowest |
22,233 |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cranston 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% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1Lowest 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% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% 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% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$90,206±$4kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Suffield 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. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$378,300±$7k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% 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. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$5,103 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Suffield 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% |
6.2% 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% |
81.6% 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. |
1976 4 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 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
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%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #8 of 38 in RI | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Suffield School District | Smithfield | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Suffield High School | Smithfield High School | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.9 |
11.8 |
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.