Compare towns
Smithfield vs Central Falls vs Johnston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithfield has the most people working from home (14%).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Johnston has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Smithfield | Central Falls | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Lowest |
22,701 |
29,835Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% RI: +4.3% |
+16.6%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
32.5±2.3Lowest 20% below RI |
44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI |
| Johnston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
26.1%±3.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
17.5%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
10.7%±2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
| 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 RI: 37.7% |
10.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
28.9% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.6%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.1%±1.6 RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8kHighest 16% above RI |
$49,285±$8kLowest 44% below RI |
$91,866±$6k 5% above RI |
| Smithfield and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,400±$12kHighest 10% above RI |
$352,100±$30kLowest 13% below RI |
$355,500±$13k 12% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,200±$75 11% below RI |
$1,275±$132Highest 5% below RI |
| Johnston and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Highest 6% above RI |
$3,744Lowest 24% below RI |
$4,614 6% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
56.7%±8.2 RI: 48% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
| Smithfield and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
24.6%Highest RI: 11.2% |
7.9% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
25.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
75.9% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
1944Lowest 18 yrs older than RI |
1968 6 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below RI |
27 minHighest 7% above RI |
24 minLowest 7% below RI |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Highest RI: 13% |
5.2%±2Lowest RI: 13% |
9.9%±2.3 RI: 13% |
| Smithfield and Johnston 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 | #38 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Johnston |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Central Falls Sr High | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
14.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.