Compare towns

Coventry vs Foster vs Sutton 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

Coventry has the youngest population (median age 44).
Foster has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Johnston has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureCoventryFosterSuttonJohnston
People
Population
35,907Highest
4,523Lowest
9,452
29,835
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44±1.1Lowest
13% above U.S.
47.1±3Highest
21% above U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
44.5±2.5
14% above U.S.
Foster and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.2%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sutton and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.2%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Johnston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Johnston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,946±$8k
28% above U.S.
$113,646±$18k
41% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$91,866±$6kLowest
14% above U.S.
Sutton and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,200±$11k
7% above U.S.
$425,300±$30k
28% above U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$355,500±$13kLowest
7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,206±$155
15% below U.S.
$1,509±$556Highest
7% above U.S.
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
$1,275±$132
10% below U.S.
Foster and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,099
63% above U.S.
$7,135Highest
129% above U.S.
$6,763
117% above U.S.
$4,614Lowest
48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.5%±11.1
U.S.: 51.1%
65.8%±25.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
38.1%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Foster and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
11.3%±2.2
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sutton and Foster 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 #24 of 38 in RI #22 of 38 in RI #105 of 282 in MA #32 of 38 in RI
School district Coventry Foster Sutton Johnston
High school in town Coventry High School None in town Sutton High School Johnston Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3
—
12.6Highest
10.3Lowest
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.