Compare towns

Johnston vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Providence

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 oldest population (median age 44.5).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Providence has the most renters (58.6% rent).

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.

MeasureJohnstonKillinglyPlainfieldProvidence
People
Population
29,835
17,867
15,141Lowest
191,767Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.5±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
37±4.5
5% below U.S.
32.8±0.5Lowest
16% below U.S.
Johnston and Killingly 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%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Providence and Killingly 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%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
11.6%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Johnston and Killingly 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%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
14.4%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,866±$6kHighest
14% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$76,993±$8k
5% below U.S.
$68,119±$3kLowest
16% below U.S.
Johnston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$355,500±$13k
7% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$362,200±$8kHighest
9% above U.S.
Providence 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.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,408±$42Highest
about the U.S. average
Providence and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,614Highest
48% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
$4,418
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
48%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Providence and Killingly 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%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
20.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
41.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
9.9%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Providence and Killingly 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 #136 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT #36 of 38 in RI
School district Johnston Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Plainfield School District MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative
High school in town Johnston Senior High Killingly High School Plainfield High School Classical High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
11.1
10.3Lowest
17.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.