Compare towns
Smithfield vs Johnston vs Plainfield
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%).
Johnston has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Johnston | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233 |
29,835Highest |
15,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below 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% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below 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±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Plainfield 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. |
$4,614 48% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Plainfield 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Plainfield 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 | #32 of 38 in RI | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Smithfield | Johnston | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Johnston Senior High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
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.