Compare towns

Killingly vs Johnston 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

Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Johnston has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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.

MeasureKillinglyJohnstonSmithfield
People
Population
17,867Lowest
29,835Highest
22,233
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.5±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
Johnston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±2.6Highest
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+
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$91,866±$6k
14% above U.S.
$102,077±$8kHighest
26% above U.S.
Smithfield and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$355,500±$13k
7% above U.S.
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,275±$132Highest
10% below U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
Johnston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,614
48% above U.S.
$5,207Highest
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
38.1%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Smithfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
25 min
7% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Smithfield and Killingly 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 #136 of 149 in CT #32 of 38 in RI #8 of 38 in RI
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Johnston Smithfield
High school in town Killingly High School Johnston Senior High Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
10.3Lowest
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.