Compare towns
Johnston vs Thompson vs 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 renters (24.1% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k 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 | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
9,337Lowest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Johnston and Smithfield 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% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241 28% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Smithfield 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. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Thompson 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Thompson School District | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
7.9Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| 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.