Compare towns
Smithfield vs Providence vs Glocester vs Johnston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Providence | Glocester | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233 |
191,767Highest |
10,221Lowest |
29,835 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% RI: +4.3% |
+7.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+2.3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+2.8% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
32.8±0.5Lowest 19% below RI |
50.8±4.3Highest 25% above RI |
44.5±2.5 10% above RI |
| Glocester 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 RI: 18.8% |
20.1%±1Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.8%±4.3 RI: 18.8% |
17.5%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
| Providence and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest RI: 18.7% |
22.2%±3.4Highest RI: 18.7% |
22.1%±2.6 RI: 18.7% |
| Glocester 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 RI: 37.7% |
34.6% RI: 37.7% |
35.7% RI: 37.7% |
28.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
14.4%±0.8 RI: 8.3% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.1%±1.6 RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
$68,119±$3kLowest 22% below RI |
$113,508±$7kHighest 29% above RI |
$91,866±$6k 5% above RI |
| Glocester 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 10% above RI |
$362,200±$8k 10% below RI |
$396,500±$28k about the RI average |
$355,500±$13kLowest 12% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,408±$42 5% above RI |
$1,417±$627Highest 6% above RI |
$1,275±$132 5% below RI |
| Glocester and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 6% above RI |
$4,418Lowest 10% below RI |
$5,248Highest 7% above RI |
$4,614 6% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 RI: 48% |
48%±2.8 RI: 48% |
64.5%±24Highest RI: 48% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
| Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% RI: 11.2% |
20.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
7.9% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% RI: 63.6% |
41.4%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
91%Highest RI: 63.6% |
75.9% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
1938Lowest 24 yrs older than RI |
1975 13 yrs newer than RI |
1968 6 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below RI |
25 min about the RI average |
34 minHighest 35% above RI |
24 minLowest 7% below RI |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 RI: 13% |
14.3%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
13.1%±4.7 RI: 13% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
| Providence 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 | #36 of 38 in RI | #12 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Johnston |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Classical High School | Ponaganset High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
17.2Highest |
12.8 |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.