Compare towns
North Smithfield vs Johnston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k 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 | North Smithfield | Johnston |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 12,708Lowest |
29,835Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest 12% above RI |
44.5±2.5Lowest 10% above RI |
| North Smithfield and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±3.2Highest RI: 18.8% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| North Smithfield and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.8Lowest RI: 18.7% |
22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
| 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 RI: 37.7% |
28.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.3Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.1%±1.6Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Johnston and North Smithfield 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 24% above RI |
$91,866±$6kLowest 5% above RI |
| North Smithfield and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,200±$21kHighest 13% above RI |
$355,500±$13kLowest 12% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,282±$531Highest 4% below RI |
$1,275±$132Lowest 5% below RI |
| 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 7% above RI |
$4,614Lowest 6% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±11.4Lowest RI: 48% |
38.1%±8.7Highest RI: 48% |
| Johnston and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
7.9%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Highest RI: 63.6% |
75.9%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 10 yrs newer than RI |
1968Lowest 6 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% above RI |
24 minLowest 7% below RI |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.6Highest RI: 13% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
| North 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 | #13 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Smithfield | Johnston |
| High school in town | North Smitfield HS | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.