Compare towns
Johnston vs Windham vs Suffield 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).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
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 | Windham | Suffield | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
23,961 |
15,702 |
12,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% 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%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 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% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
| Suffield and North Smithfield 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. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
| Suffield and North Smithfield 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. |
$4,633 49% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Suffield 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% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and North Smithfield 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Suffield School District | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Windham High School | Suffield High School | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
9.8Lowest |
10.9 |
12.1Highest |
| 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.