Compare towns
Johnston vs Central Falls vs Cranston
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 the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Cranston has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Central Falls | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835 |
22,701Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+16.6%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI |
32.5±2.3Lowest 20% below RI |
39.6±0.9 about the RI average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
26.1%±3.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.6%±1.4 RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
10.7%±2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
16.8%±1.1 RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% RI: 37.7% |
10.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
36.4%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 RI: 8.3% |
4.6%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.3%±0.8Highest 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 | $91,866±$6kHighest 5% above RI |
$49,285±$8kLowest 44% below RI |
$90,206±$4k about the RI average |
| Johnston and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13k 12% below RI |
$352,100±$30kLowest 13% below RI |
$378,300±$7kHighest 6% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 5% below RI |
$1,200±$75Lowest 11% below RI |
$1,375±$59Highest about the RI average |
| Cranston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,614 6% below RI |
$3,744Lowest 24% below RI |
$5,103Highest 4% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
56.7%±8.2Highest RI: 48% |
47.3%±6 RI: 48% |
| Central Falls and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
24.6%Highest RI: 11.2% |
10.2% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest RI: 63.6% |
25.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
67.6% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 6 yrs newer than RI |
1944Lowest 18 yrs older than RI |
1958 4 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 7% below RI |
27 minHighest 7% above RI |
24 min 5% below RI |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3 RI: 13% |
5.2%±2Lowest RI: 13% |
13%±1.2Highest 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 | #32 of 38 in RI | #38 of 38 in RI | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Central Falls Sr High | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
14.6 |
15.4Highest |
| 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.