Compare towns
Smithfield vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks 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 expensive homes ($446k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Putnam | Windsor Locks | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233 |
9,292Lowest |
12,579 |
29,835Highest |
| 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. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$91,866±$6k 14% above 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. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Johnston 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. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,614 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Putnam School District | Windsor Locks School District | Johnston |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Putnam High School | Windsor Locks High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
9.5 |
8.9Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.