Compare towns
Smithfield vs Thomaston vs Coventry 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).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Coventry has the most homeowners (82%).
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 | Thomaston | Coventry | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233 |
7,492Lowest |
35,907Highest |
29,835 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44±1.1 13% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Coventry 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Coventry 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.6 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% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$102,946±$8k 28% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Thomaston and Coventry 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. |
$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$356,200±$11k 7% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,037±$147 27% below U.S. |
$1,206±$155 15% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Coventry 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. |
$5,915Highest 90% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Smithfield 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Coventry 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #24 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Thomaston School District | Coventry | Johnston |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Thomaston High School | Coventry High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
10.7 |
12.3Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.