Compare towns
Johnston vs Hampton vs Cranston
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 most affordable homes ($356k median).
Hampton has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Hampton | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835 |
10,101Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cranston and Johnston 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% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 14% above U.S. |
$97,163±$4kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$90,206±$4kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$378,300±$7k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,375±$59 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$5,103 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Cranston 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 38 in RI | #31 of 120 in NH | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | — | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | — | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 15.4Highest |
| 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.