What stands out worked out from the figures below

Johnston has the most expensive homes ($356k median).

Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Johnston	Griswold
People
Population	29,835Highest	11,530Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.	48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S.
	Griswold 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%	18.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Griswold 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 U.S.: 17.2%	17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Johnston and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,866±$6kHighest 14% above U.S.	$78,719±$11kLowest about the U.S. average
	Johnston and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$355,500±$13kHighest 7% above U.S.	$275,900±$42kLowest 17% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S.	$1,177±$65Lowest 17% below U.S.
	Johnston and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S.	$4,628Highest 48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Griswold and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	9.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Johnston and Griswold 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	#118 of 149 in CT
School district	Johnston	Griswold School District
High school in town	Johnston Senior High	Griswold High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	11.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.