Compare towns
Glocester vs Johnston vs Providence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Glocester has the highest household income ($114k).
Johnston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Glocester | Johnston | Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,221Lowest |
29,835 |
191,767Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+2.8% RI: +4.3% |
+7.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3Highest 25% above RI |
44.5±2.5 10% above RI |
32.8±0.5Lowest 19% below RI |
| Glocester and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 RI: 18.8% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
20.1%±1Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Providence and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.4Highest RI: 18.7% |
22.1%±2.6 RI: 18.7% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest 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+ | 35.7%Highest RI: 37.7% |
28.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
34.6% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.1%±1.6 RI: 8.3% |
14.4%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,508±$7kHighest 29% above RI |
$91,866±$6k 5% above RI |
$68,119±$3kLowest 22% below RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,500±$28kHighest about the RI average |
$355,500±$13kLowest 12% below RI |
$362,200±$8k 10% below RI |
| Glocester and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,417±$627Highest 6% above RI |
$1,275±$132Lowest 5% below RI |
$1,408±$42 5% above RI |
| Glocester and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,248Highest 7% above RI |
$4,614 6% below RI |
$4,418Lowest 10% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24Highest RI: 48% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
48%±2.8 RI: 48% |
| Glocester and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
7.9% RI: 11.2% |
20.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest RI: 63.6% |
75.9% RI: 63.6% |
41.4%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 13 yrs newer than RI |
1968 6 yrs newer than RI |
1938Lowest 24 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 35% above RI |
24 minLowest 7% below RI |
25 min about the RI average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7 RI: 13% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
14.3%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
| Providence and Glocester 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 | #12 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI | #36 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Johnston | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | Johnston Senior High | Classical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
10.3Lowest |
17.2Highest |
| 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.