Compare towns
Smithfield vs Lawrence 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 people working from home (14%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Coventry has the highest household income ($103k).
Johnston has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Lawrence | Coventry | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233Lowest |
88,736Highest |
35,907 |
29,835 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
44±1.1 13% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Coventry 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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.6 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% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% 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. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$356,200±$11k 7% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Lawrence 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. |
$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,206±$155 15% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% 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% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence 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% |
17.6%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% |
28.1%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. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #24 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Lawrence | Coventry | Johnston |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Lawrence High School | Coventry High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
13.6Highest |
12.3 |
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.