Compare towns
North Smithfield vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Ware | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,708 |
6,369Lowest |
29,835Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest 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% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Highest 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±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$91,866±$6k 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. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104Lowest 26% 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. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,614 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 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 |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #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 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.