What stands out worked out from the figures below

Johnston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

Hatfield has the most people working from home (16%).

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	Hatfield
People
Population	29,835Highest	3,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.	46.8±5Highest 20% above U.S.
	Hatfield and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Johnston and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hatfield 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%	48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Johnston and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,866±$6kHighest 14% above U.S.	$89,005±$25kLowest 10% above U.S.
	Johnston and Hatfield 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.	$440,800±$26kHighest 32% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S.	$1,267±$216Lowest 10% below U.S.
	Johnston and Hatfield 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.	$4,930Highest 58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42.6%±11.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hatfield and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 11% below U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hatfield 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	#198 of 282 in MA
School district	Johnston	Hatfield
High school in town	Johnston Senior High	Smith Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Highest	6.1Lowest
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.