Compare towns
Johnston vs Sutton vs North Smithfield
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).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
North Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Sutton | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
9,452Lowest |
12,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Sutton and North Smithfield 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. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 38 in RI | #105 of 282 in MA | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Sutton | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Sutton High School | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.6Highest |
12.1 |
| 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.