Compare towns
Smithfield vs Northbridge 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 homeowners (81.6%).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Northbridge | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233 |
16,458Lowest |
29,835Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Northbridge 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±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Northbridge 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. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Northbridge 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. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Northbridge 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 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 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge and Smithfield 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Northbridge | Johnston |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Northbridge High | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
10.8 |
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.