Compare towns
Smithfield vs Derby vs Coventry 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).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Coventry has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Smithfield | Derby | Coventry | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233 |
12,487Lowest |
35,907Highest |
29,835 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
44±1.1 13% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Derby and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Coventry and Johnston 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% |
21.1%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.6Lowest 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% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,946±$8kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
| Coventry and Smithfield 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. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$356,200±$11k 7% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,206±$155 15% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
| Derby and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 67% above U.S. |
$5,510Highest 77% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 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 |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #24 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Derby School District | Coventry | Johnston |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Derby High School | Coventry High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
9.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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.