Compare towns

Smithfield vs Everett 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 people working from home (14%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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.

MeasureSmithfieldEverettJohnston
People
Population
22,233Lowest
50,045Highest
29,835
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
35.2±1.5Lowest
10% below U.S.
44.5±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
Everett 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%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
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%
24.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,077±$8kHighest
26% above U.S.
$85,218±$7kLowest
6% above U.S.
$91,866±$6k
14% above U.S.
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±$12k
34% above U.S.
$610,000±$23kHighest
83% above U.S.
$355,500±$13kLowest
7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
$2,076±$69Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,275±$132
10% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,207Highest
67% above U.S.
$4,880
56% above U.S.
$4,614Lowest
48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±5.8
U.S.: 51.1%
38.1%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Smithfield and Everett 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%
14.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
7% below U.S.
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
14%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Smithfield and Everett 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 #264 of 282 in MA #32 of 38 in RI
School district Smithfield Everett Johnston
High school in town Smithfield High School Everett High Johnston Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8
12.1Highest
10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.