Compare towns

Johnston vs Glocester vs Cumberland

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 most homeowners (91%).
Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

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.

MeasureJohnstonGlocesterCumberland
People
Population
29,835
10,221Lowest
36,820Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
RI: +4.3%
+2.3%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
+8.7%Highest
RI: +4.3%
Median age
44.5±2.5
10% above RI
50.8±4.3Highest
25% above RI
43.5±1.2Lowest
7% above RI
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%±4.3
RI: 18.8%
23.4%±2.4Highest
RI: 18.8%
Cumberland and Glocester 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%
18.9%±1.7Lowest
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%
44.8%Highest
RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.6Highest
RI: 8.3%
4.3%±1.9
RI: 8.3%
3.1%±0.7Lowest
RI: 8.3%
Johnston and Glocester 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
$113,508±$7k
29% above RI
$117,522±$8kHighest
34% above RI
Cumberland and Glocester 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
$396,500±$28k
about the RI average
$431,000±$15kHighest
7% above RI
Cumberland and Glocester 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
$1,379±$109
about the RI average
Glocester and Cumberland 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
$4,870
about the RI average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±8.7Lowest
RI: 48%
64.5%±24Highest
RI: 48%
47.9%±9.2
RI: 48%
Glocester and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.9%Highest
RI: 11.2%
4.8%
RI: 11.2%
3.9%Lowest
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.9%Lowest
RI: 63.6%
91%Highest
RI: 63.6%
76.3%
RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
6 yrs newer than RI
1975Highest
13 yrs newer than RI
1972
10 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
7% below RI
34 minHighest
35% above RI
26 min
3% above RI
Work from home
9.9%±2.3Lowest
RI: 13%
13.1%±4.7
RI: 13%
14.8%±2.4Highest
RI: 13%
Cumberland and Glocester 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 #18 of 38 in RI
School district Johnston Foster-Glocester · Glocester Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland
High school in town Johnston Senior High Ponaganset High School Cumberland High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
12.8
13.6Highest
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.