Compare towns
Johnston vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k 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 | Johnston | Bristol |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
22,220Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest RI: +4.3% |
-2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI |
43±2.2Lowest 6% above RI |
| Johnston and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.6Lowest RI: 18.7% |
22.9%±2Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Bristol and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
47.6%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6Lowest RI: 8.3% |
18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6kLowest 5% above RI |
$97,764±$8kHighest 11% above RI |
| Bristol and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13kLowest 12% below RI |
$485,000±$25kHighest 20% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Lowest 5% below RI |
$1,579±$118Highest 18% above RI |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,614Lowest 6% below RI |
$5,393Highest 10% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Highest RI: 48% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest RI: 48% |
| Johnston and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest RI: 11.2% |
6.5%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest RI: 63.6% |
66.1%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 6 yrs newer than RI |
1964Lowest 2 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 7% below RI |
25 minHighest about the RI average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
11.2%±2.7Highest RI: 13% |
| Bristol 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 | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.