Compare towns

Chaplin vs Johnston vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Johnston has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).

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.

MeasureChaplinJohnstonPlainfield
People
Population
2,070Lowest
29,835Highest
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
43.7±4.8
12% above U.S.
44.5±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Johnston and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.7%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.9%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Johnston and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Chaplin and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,846±$14kHighest
21% above U.S.
$91,866±$6k
14% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Chaplin and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$255,200±$24kLowest
23% below U.S.
$355,500±$13kHighest
7% above U.S.
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,473±$275Highest
4% above U.S.
$1,275±$132
10% below U.S.
$1,204±$70Lowest
15% below U.S.
Chaplin and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,524
45% above U.S.
$4,614Highest
48% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.1%±8.7
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
18.1%±10Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
Chaplin and Plainfield 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 — #32 of 38 in RI #131 of 149 in CT
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Johnston Plainfield School District
High school in town Parish Hill High School Johnston Senior High Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.5Lowest
10.3Highest
10.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.