What stands out worked out from the figures below

Johnston has the shortest commute (24 min average).

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Johnston	Douglas
People
Population	29,835Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.	44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Johnston and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Douglas 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 U.S.: 17.2%	15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Johnston and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S.	$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S.	$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,275±$132Lowest 10% below U.S.	$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S.
	Douglas and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S.	$6,338Highest 103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.1%±8.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Johnston and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#32 of 38 in RI	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Johnston	Douglas
High school in town	Johnston Senior High	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.