Compare towns
Johnston vs Glocester vs Putnam
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 people working from home (13.1%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
10,221 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 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%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Glocester and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest 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% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Glocester and Johnston 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 |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Glocester and Johnston 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester and Johnston 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Glocester 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 | #12 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Johnston | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Ponaganset High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
12.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.