Compare towns
Johnston vs Valley Falls vs North Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Valley Falls has the most kids (25% under 18).
North Smithfield has the most people working from home (14.2%).
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 | Valley Falls | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
12,657Lowest |
12,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+4.7% RI: +4.3% |
+5.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 10% above RI |
41.7±3.5Lowest about the RI average |
45.5±3.9Highest 12% above RI |
| 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 RI: 18.8% |
25%±4.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.2%±3.2 RI: 18.8% |
| Valley Falls 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 RI: 18.7% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.7% |
20.9%±2.8 RI: 18.7% |
| 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 RI: 37.7% |
29.1% RI: 37.7% |
33.8%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6Highest RI: 8.3% |
1.3%±0.8Lowest RI: 8.3% |
4.4%±1.3 RI: 8.3% |
| 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 5% above RI |
$92,901±$17k 6% above RI |
$108,866±$12kHighest 24% above RI |
| North Smithfield and Valley Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13kLowest 12% below RI |
$375,200±$19k 7% below RI |
$457,200±$21kHighest 13% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Lowest 5% below RI |
$1,362±$142Highest about the RI average |
$1,282±$531 4% below RI |
| Valley Falls and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,614 6% below RI |
$4,397Lowest 10% below RI |
$5,219Highest 7% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7 RI: 48% |
46.4%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest RI: 48% |
| Valley Falls 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 RI: 11.2% |
4.1%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
4.8% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% RI: 63.6% |
67.8%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
77.9%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 6 yrs newer than RI |
1963Lowest 1 yr newer than RI |
1972Highest 10 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 7% below RI |
23 minLowest 9% below RI |
26 minHighest 4% above RI |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
9.9%±4.4Lowest RI: 13% |
14.2%±3.6Highest RI: 13% |
| North Smithfield and Johnston 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 | — | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | — | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | — | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.