Compare towns
Franklin vs Johnston vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Johnston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Franklin | Johnston | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
29,835Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3 4% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,000±$10kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
$355,500±$13kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,614Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #32 of 38 in RI | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Franklin School District | Johnston | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Johnston Senior High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
10.3 |
| 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.