Compare towns
Johnston vs Wolcott 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 most renters (24.1% rent).
Wolcott has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k 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 | Wolcott | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
16,279Lowest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.4±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Wolcott 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% |
19.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wolcott and Johnston 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% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$110,850±$10kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Wolcott 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±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$326,200±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,464±$913Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Wolcott 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. |
$5,799Highest 86% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.8%±24.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Wolcott 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 | #76 of 149 in CT | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Wolcott School District | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Wolcott High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
10.1Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| 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.