Compare towns
Johnston vs Glocester 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 most affordable homes ($356k median).
Glocester has the highest household income ($114k).
Cranston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Glocester | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835 |
10,221Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% RI: +4.3% |
+2.3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 10% above RI |
50.8±4.3Highest 25% above RI |
39.6±0.9Lowest about the RI average |
| Glocester and Johnston 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% |
19.8%±4.3Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.6%±1.4 RI: 18.8% |
| Glocester and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.6 RI: 18.7% |
22.2%±3.4Highest RI: 18.7% |
16.8%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Glocester 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% |
35.7% RI: 37.7% |
36.4%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 RI: 8.3% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest 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±$6k 5% above RI |
$113,508±$7kHighest 29% above RI |
$90,206±$4kLowest about the RI average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13kLowest 12% below RI |
$396,500±$28kHighest about the RI average |
$378,300±$7k 6% below RI |
| Glocester and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Lowest 5% below RI |
$1,417±$627Highest 6% above RI |
$1,375±$59 about the RI average |
| Glocester and Cranston 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 |
$5,248Highest 7% above RI |
$5,103 4% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
64.5%±24Highest RI: 48% |
47.3%±6 RI: 48% |
| Glocester and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
10.2%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% RI: 63.6% |
91%Highest RI: 63.6% |
67.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 6 yrs newer than RI |
1975Highest 13 yrs newer than RI |
1958Lowest 4 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 7% below RI |
34 minHighest 35% above RI |
24 min 5% below RI |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
13.1%±4.7Highest RI: 13% |
13%±1.2 RI: 13% |
| Glocester and Cranston 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 | #12 of 38 in RI | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Ponaganset High School | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.8 |
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.