Compare towns
Coventry vs Johnston vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Coventry | Johnston | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 35,907Highest |
29,835Lowest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±1.1 13% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Coventry 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% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,200±$11k 7% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,206±$155Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099 63% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Coventry | Johnston | — |
| High school in town | Coventry High School | Johnston Senior High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.