Compare towns
North Smithfield vs Upton vs Johnston vs Scituate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Upton | Johnston | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,708 |
8,189Lowest |
29,835Highest |
10,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Johnston 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$12k 35% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
| Upton and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,489±$251Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Scituate and North Smithfield 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Scituate and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and North Smithfield 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #32 of 38 in RI | #17 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Smithfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Johnston | Scituate |
| High school in town | North Smitfield HS | Blackstone Valley | Johnston Senior High | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.2 |
10.3Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.