Compare towns
Cranston vs Thompson vs Killingly 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 most expensive homes ($378k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
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 | Thompson | Killingly | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 83,250Highest |
9,337Lowest |
17,867 |
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±0.9 about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 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±$4k 12% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$59Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
| 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 64% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,614 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Johnston |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Killingly High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
7.9Lowest |
11.1 |
10.3 |
| 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.