Compare towns
Smithfield vs Westerly 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 people working from home (14%).
Westerly has the oldest population (median age 52.2).
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 | Westerly | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Lowest |
23,333 |
29,835Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+2.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+2.8% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average |
52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI |
44.5±2.5 10% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
14.4%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.8% |
17.5%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Johnston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
26.4%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
22.1%±2.6 RI: 18.7% |
| Westerly 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% RI: 37.7% |
45.8%Highest RI: 37.7% |
28.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
5%±1.5Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.1%±1.6 RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8kHighest 16% above RI |
$98,875±$5k 13% above RI |
$91,866±$6kLowest 5% above RI |
| Smithfield and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,400±$12k 10% above RI |
$466,600±$15kHighest 15% above RI |
$355,500±$13kLowest 12% below RI |
| Westerly and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,257±$131 6% below RI |
$1,275±$132Highest 5% below RI |
| Johnston and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Highest 6% above RI |
$3,847Lowest 21% below RI |
$4,614 6% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
46.6%±10.4 RI: 48% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
| Smithfield and Westerly 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% |
5.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
7.9%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
74.7%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
75.9% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
1973 11 yrs newer than RI |
1968Lowest 6 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below RI |
24 min 5% below RI |
24 minLowest 7% below RI |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Highest RI: 13% |
11.5%±2.5 RI: 13% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
| Smithfield and Westerly 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 | #25 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Westerly | Johnston |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Westerly High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
9.6Lowest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.