Compare towns

Smithfield vs Brooklyn 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

Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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.

MeasureSmithfieldBrooklynWindsor LocksJohnston
People
Population
22,233
8,517Lowest
12,579
29,835Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
44.5±2.5
14% above U.S.
Brooklyn and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
Brooklyn and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Johnston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,077±$8kHighest
26% above U.S.
$96,207±$15k
19% above U.S.
$81,205±$13kLowest
about the U.S. average
$91,866±$6k
14% above U.S.
Smithfield and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
$355,500±$13k
7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,125±$98
20% below U.S.
$1,394±$187Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,275±$132
10% below U.S.
Windsor Locks and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,207Highest
67% above U.S.
$4,538
45% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$4,614
48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.1%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 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
25 min
7% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
24 min
11% below U.S.
Work from home
14%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windsor Locks and 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 #8 of 38 in RI #113 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT #32 of 38 in RI
School district Smithfield Brooklyn School District Windsor Locks School District Johnston
High school in town Smithfield High School None in town Windsor Locks High School Johnston Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8Highest
—
8.9Lowest
10.3
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.