Compare towns
North Smithfield vs Windsor Locks 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 expensive homes ($457k median).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Johnston has the most renters (24.1% rent).
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 | Windsor Locks | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,708 |
12,579Lowest |
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±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above 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%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| North Smithfield and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston and Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,275±$132Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and North Smithfield 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,614 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Johnston 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Smithfield | Windsor Locks School District | Johnston |
| High school in town | North Smitfield HS | Windsor Locks High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.