Compare towns
Johnston vs Webster 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).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Webster | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
17,748 |
12,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%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% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Johnston 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. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Lowest 13% 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. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,219Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Johnston 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 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 |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Webster | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Bartlett High School | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.6 |
12.1Highest |
| 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.