Compare towns
Johnston vs Webster vs Coventry 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Coventry has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Webster | Coventry | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,835 |
17,748Lowest |
35,907Highest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44±1.1 13% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Coventry 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% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$102,946±$8kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Coventry and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$356,200±$11k 7% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,206±$155 15% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Webster 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. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Coventry 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #24 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Webster | Coventry | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Bartlett High School | Coventry High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.6 |
12.3Highest |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.