Compare towns
Cranston vs Glocester vs Johnston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cranston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Glocester has the highest household income ($114k).
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
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 | Cranston | Glocester | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,250Highest |
10,221Lowest |
29,835 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+2.3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+2.8% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 39.6±0.9Lowest about the RI average |
50.8±4.3Highest 25% above RI |
44.5±2.5 10% above RI |
| Glocester and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4 RI: 18.8% |
19.8%±4.3Highest RI: 18.8% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Glocester and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
22.2%±3.4Highest RI: 18.7% |
22.1%±2.6 RI: 18.7% |
| Glocester and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Highest RI: 37.7% |
35.7% RI: 37.7% |
28.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.1%±1.6 RI: 8.3% |
| Cranston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,206±$4kLowest about the RI average |
$113,508±$7kHighest 29% above RI |
$91,866±$6k 5% above RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,300±$7k 6% below RI |
$396,500±$28kHighest about the RI average |
$355,500±$13kLowest 12% below RI |
| Glocester and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$59 about the RI average |
$1,417±$627Highest 6% above RI |
$1,275±$132Lowest 5% below RI |
| Glocester and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,103 4% above RI |
$5,248Highest 7% above RI |
$4,614Lowest 6% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6 RI: 48% |
64.5%±24Highest RI: 48% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
| Glocester and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
7.9% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
91%Highest RI: 63.6% |
75.9% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 4 yrs older than RI |
1975Highest 13 yrs newer than RI |
1968 6 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 5% below RI |
34 minHighest 35% above RI |
24 minLowest 7% below RI |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2 RI: 13% |
13.1%±4.7Highest RI: 13% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
| Glocester and Cranston 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 | #27 of 38 in RI | #12 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Johnston |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | Ponaganset High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
12.8 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.