What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cranston has the most people working from home (13%).

Johnston has the oldest population (median age 44.5).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cranston	Johnston
People
Population	83,250Highest	29,835Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3%	+2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	39.6±0.9Lowest about the RI average	44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI
Kids under 18	19.6%±1.4Highest RI: 18.8%	17.5%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8%
	Cranston and Johnston 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%	22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Highest RI: 37.7%	28.9%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3%	6.1%±1.6Lowest 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	$91,866±$6kHighest 5% above RI
	Johnston and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$378,300±$7kHighest 6% below RI	$355,500±$13kLowest 12% below RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$59Highest about the RI average	$1,275±$132Lowest 5% below RI
	Cranston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,103Highest 4% above RI	$4,614Lowest 6% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±6Highest RI: 48%	38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48%
	Cranston and Johnston 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%	7.9%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.6%Lowest RI: 63.6%	75.9%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 4 yrs older than RI	1968Highest 6 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 5% below RI	24 minLowest 7% below RI
Work from home	13%±1.2Highest RI: 13%	9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13%
	Cranston and Johnston 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	Johnston
High school in town	Cranston High School West	Johnston Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.4Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.