Compare towns
Johnston vs Willimantic vs Coventry 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
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Coventry has the most homeowners (82%).
North Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Willimantic | Coventry | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,835 |
18,096 |
35,907Highest |
12,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
31.3±2.7Lowest 20% below U.S. |
44±1.1 13% above U.S. |
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% |
20.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.6 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% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$45,962±$7kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$102,946±$8k 28% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Coventry 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. |
$190,900±$17kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$356,200±$11k 7% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,063±$68Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,206±$155 15% 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 | $4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$4,678 50% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
$5,219Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North 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 | — | #24 of 38 in RI | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | — | Coventry | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | — | Coventry High School | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
12.1 |
| 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.