Compare towns
Smithfield vs Hampton Beach 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 highest household income ($102k).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233 |
2,605Lowest |
29,835Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Johnston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach 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. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest 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 | — | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | — | Johnston |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | — | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.