Compare towns
Cranston vs Hampton 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
Cranston has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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.
| Measure | Cranston | Hampton | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,250Highest |
1,647Lowest |
29,835 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 12% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,300±$7kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$59Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Cranston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,103Highest 64% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,614 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | — | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Hampton School District | Johnston |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | None in town | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
— | 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.