Compare towns
Johnston vs Glocester vs Plainfield vs Cumberland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Glocester has the most homeowners (91%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Cumberland has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,835 |
10,221Lowest |
15,141 |
36,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston and Plainfield 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 14% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| 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±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$431,000±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| 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±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
| Glocester and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,614 48% above U.S. |
$5,248Highest 68% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,870 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Plainfield School District | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Ponaganset High School | Plainfield High School | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.8 |
10.3Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.