Compare towns
Smithfield vs Windsor Locks vs Pomfret 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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Johnston has the most renters (24.1% rent).
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 | Windsor Locks | Pomfret | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233 |
12,579 |
4,317Lowest |
29,835Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Pomfret 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$108,476±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Smithfield 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Johnston 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,614 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Smithfield 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Windsor Locks School District | Pomfret School District | Johnston |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— | 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.