Compare towns
Smithfield 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).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Sutton | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233 |
9,452Lowest |
29,835Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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% |
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% |
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% |
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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,400±$12k 34% 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. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Sutton 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. |
$6,763Highest 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% |
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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% 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. |
1981Highest 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. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #8 of 38 in RI | #105 of 282 in MA | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Sutton | Johnston |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Sutton High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
12.6Highest |
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.