Compare towns
Johnston vs Exeter
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%).
Exeter has the most people working from home (17.2%).
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 | Johnston | Exeter |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
7,195Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI |
37.7±5.9Lowest 7% below RI |
| Johnston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
19.7%±4.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Exeter 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% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Johnston and Exeter 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% |
46.1%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6Lowest RI: 8.3% |
11.1%±6.3Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Exeter 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±$6kLowest 5% above RI |
$111,250±$30kHighest 27% above RI |
| Exeter 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 |
$509,200±$43kHighest 26% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Lowest 5% below RI |
$1,317±$307Highest about the RI average |
| Exeter 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 |
$5,881Highest 20% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
91%±26.7Highest RI: 48% |
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
12.8%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
80.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 6 yrs newer than RI |
1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 7% below RI |
22 minLowest 12% below RI |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
17.2%±6.1Highest RI: 13% |
| Exeter 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 | #14 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Exeter-West Greenwich |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
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| 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.