Compare towns
Johnston vs Valley Falls vs 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 oldest population (median age 44.5).
Valley Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
12,657Lowest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+4.7%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI |
41.7±3.5Lowest about the RI average |
41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
| Johnston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
25%±4.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
| 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 RI: 37.7% |
29.1% RI: 37.7% |
40%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 RI: 8.3% |
1.3%±0.8Lowest RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6kLowest 5% above RI |
$92,901±$17k 6% above RI |
$102,077±$8kHighest 16% above RI |
| 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 |
$446,400±$12kHighest 10% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 5% below RI |
$1,362±$142Highest about the RI average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
| Valley Falls and Johnston 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 |
$5,207Highest 6% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
46.4%±17.7 RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
| Smithfield and Valley Falls 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% |
6.2% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% RI: 63.6% |
67.8%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 6 yrs newer than RI |
1963Lowest 1 yr newer than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 7% below RI |
23 minLowest 9% below RI |
25 minHighest 4% below RI |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
9.9%±4.4Lowest RI: 13% |
14%±3.1Highest RI: 13% |
| 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 | — | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | — | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | — | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 11.8Highest |
| 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.