Compare towns
Smithfield vs Sturbridge vs Sutton 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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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 | Sturbridge | Sutton | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233 |
9,960 |
9,452Lowest |
29,835Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 67% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Sutton 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Johnston |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
7.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
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.