Compare towns
Smithfield vs Needham vs Johnston vs Bristol
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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Bristol has the most renters (33.9% rent).
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 | Needham | Johnston | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233 |
32,459Highest |
29,835 |
22,220Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43±2.2 11% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$97,764±$8k 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$485,000±$25k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,579±$118 12% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 67% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$5,393 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #8 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA | #32 of 38 in RI | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Needham | Johnston | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Needham High | Johnston Senior High | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
11.9 |
10.3Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| 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.