Compare towns
Smithfield vs Windham vs Bristol 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 people working from home (14%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k median).
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 | Windham | Bristol | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233 |
23,961 |
22,220Lowest |
29,835Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
43±2.2 11% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$97,764±$8k 21% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Bristol 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. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,107±$69 22% below U.S. |
$1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 67% above U.S. |
$4,633 49% above U.S. |
$5,393Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Bristol 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #20 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Bristol Warren | Johnston |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Windham High School | Mt. Hope High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
9.8Lowest |
12.5Highest |
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.