Compare towns
Johnston vs Woonsocket vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnston has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Woonsocket | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835 |
43,521Highest |
22,233Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+5%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI |
35.7±1.3Lowest 12% below RI |
41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
| Johnston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
23.3%±2Highest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
| 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% RI: 37.7% |
19.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
40%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 RI: 8.3% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 5% above RI |
$61,059±$5kLowest 30% below RI |
$102,077±$8kHighest 16% above RI |
| 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±$13k 12% below RI |
$311,000±$15kLowest 23% below RI |
$446,400±$12kHighest 10% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Highest 5% below RI |
$1,161±$48 13% below RI |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
| Johnston and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,614 6% below RI |
$3,960Lowest 19% below RI |
$5,207Highest 6% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
46.7%±5.4 RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
| Smithfield and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% RI: 11.2% |
18.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
6.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% RI: 63.6% |
37.2%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 6 yrs newer than RI |
1952Lowest 10 yrs older than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 7% below RI |
29 minHighest 15% above RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3 RI: 13% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest RI: 13% |
14%±3.1Highest RI: 13% |
| 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Woonsocket High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
15.2Highest |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.