Compare towns
Johnston vs Hatfield 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).
Hatfield has the most people working from home (16%).
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 | Hatfield | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835 |
3,325Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.8±5Highest 20% above U.S. |
39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3Lowest 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% |
23.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1Lowest 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% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest 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±$6kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$89,005±$25kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$90,206±$4k 12% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Cranston 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. |
$378,300±$7k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,375±$59Highest about the U.S. average |
| Cranston and Johnston 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. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
$5,103Highest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cranston and Hatfield 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hatfield and Cranston 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 | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Hatfield | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Smith Academy | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
6.1Lowest |
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.