Compare towns
North Smithfield vs Brooklyn vs Johnston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Smithfield has the most people working from home (14.2%).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Johnston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | North Smithfield | Brooklyn | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,708 |
8,517Lowest |
29,835Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6Highest 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+ | 33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132 10% 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 | $5,219Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,538Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,614 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brooklyn and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Smithfield and Brooklyn 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 | #13 of 38 in RI | #113 of 149 in CT | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Smithfield | Brooklyn School District | Johnston |
| High school in town | North Smitfield HS | None in town | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.