Compare towns
Johnston vs Thompson 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k 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 | Thompson | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
9,337Lowest |
12,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Smithfield and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Johnston 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Thompson 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% 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 | $4,614 48% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,219Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Smithfield and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Thompson School District | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
7.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.