Compare towns
Bristol vs Johnston vs Middletown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most people working from home (11.2%).
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Middletown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Bristol | Johnston | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,220 |
29,835Highest |
16,832Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+2.8% RI: +4.3% |
+5.7%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 43±2.2Lowest 6% above RI |
44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI |
43.8±2 8% above RI |
| Johnston and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±1.9Lowest RI: 18.8% |
17.5%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
19%±2.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Middletown and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2Highest RI: 18.7% |
22.1%±2.6Lowest RI: 18.7% |
22.3%±2.6 RI: 18.7% |
| Bristol and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Highest RI: 37.7% |
28.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
47.4% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3% |
6.1%±1.6Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.9%±1.6 RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,764±$8k 11% above RI |
$91,866±$6kLowest 5% above RI |
$101,948±$6kHighest 16% above RI |
| Middletown and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,000±$25k 20% above RI |
$355,500±$13kLowest 12% below RI |
$563,300±$46kHighest 39% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,579±$118 18% above RI |
$1,275±$132Lowest 5% below RI |
$1,990±$170Highest 48% above RI |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,393 10% above RI |
$4,614Lowest 6% below RI |
$6,153Highest 26% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.1Lowest RI: 48% |
38.1%±8.7 RI: 48% |
46.9%±6.3Highest RI: 48% |
| Middletown and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
7.9% RI: 11.2% |
8.5%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% RI: 63.6% |
75.9%Highest RI: 63.6% |
57.9%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 2 yrs newer than RI |
1968 6 yrs newer than RI |
1969Highest 7 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest about the RI average |
24 min 7% below RI |
20 minLowest 22% below RI |
| Work from home | 11.2%±2.7Highest RI: 13% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
10.9%±2.3 RI: 13% |
| Bristol and Middletown 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 | #20 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI | #23 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Bristol Warren | Johnston | Middletown |
| High school in town | Mt. Hope High School | Johnston Senior High | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
10.3Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.