Compare towns
North Smithfield vs Sutton vs Woonsocket 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Sutton | Woonsocket | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,708 |
9,452Lowest |
43,521Highest |
29,835 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
| Sutton and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% 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 | $5,219 67% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,614 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 38 in RI | #105 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Smithfield | Sutton | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Johnston |
| High school in town | North Smitfield HS | Sutton High School | Woonsocket High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.6 |
15.2Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.