Compare towns
Smithfield vs Hardwick 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).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Coventry has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Hardwick | Coventry | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233 |
2,684Lowest |
35,907Highest |
29,835 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%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. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
44±1.1 13% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Coventry 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% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Johnston 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% |
30.9% 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% |
6.2%±4.4 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. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$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. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above 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. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,206±$155 15% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
$4,614 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick 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% |
11%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% |
68.2%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. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Coventry 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #24 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Quabbin | Coventry | Johnston |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | None in town | 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.