Compare towns
Smithfield vs Devens 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Coventry has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Smithfield | Devens | Coventry | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233 |
1,723Lowest |
35,907Highest |
29,835 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%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. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
44±1.1 13% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Devens 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% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest 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% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.6 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$102,946±$8k 28% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$356,200±$11k 7% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,206±$155 15% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
| Devens 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. |
$5,556Highest 78% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Smithfield 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% |
25.3%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% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 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. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens 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 | — | #24 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | — | Coventry | Johnston |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | — | Coventry High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | 12.3Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.