Compare towns
Smithfield vs Dover 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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
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 | Dover | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233 |
5,930Lowest |
29,835Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Dover 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% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
| Dover 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Johnston 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #8 of 38 in RI | #1 of 282 in MA | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Johnston |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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.