Compare towns
Johnston 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).
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 | Cranston |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 29,835Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI |
39.6±0.9Lowest about the RI average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
19.6%±1.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Cranston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
16.8%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
36.4%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$90,206±$4kLowest 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±$13kLowest 12% below RI |
$378,300±$7kHighest 6% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Lowest 5% 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 | $4,614Lowest 6% below RI |
$5,103Highest 4% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
47.3%±6Highest RI: 48% |
| Cranston and Johnston 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% |
10.2%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest RI: 63.6% |
67.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 6 yrs newer than RI |
1958Lowest 4 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 7% below RI |
24 minHighest 5% below RI |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest 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 | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
15.4Highest |
| 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.