Compare towns

Johnston vs Killingly vs Providence vs Thompson

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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Providence has the most renters (58.6% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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.

MeasureJohnstonKillinglyProvidenceThompson
People
Population
29,835
17,867
191,767Highest
9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
44.5±2.5
14% above U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
32.8±0.5Lowest
16% below U.S.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.5%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±1Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
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%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
11.6%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
14.4%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,866±$6k
14% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$68,119±$3kLowest
16% below U.S.
$93,629±$18kHighest
16% above U.S.
Thompson 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±$13k
7% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$362,200±$8kHighest
9% above U.S.
$291,900±$24k
12% below 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±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,408±$42Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
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.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$4,418
42% above U.S.
$3,822Lowest
23% 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%
48%±2.8
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson and Providence 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%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
20.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
41.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
9.9%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Providence and Thompson 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 #36 of 38 in RI #130 of 149 in CT
School district Johnston Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative Thompson School District
High school in town Johnston Senior High Killingly High School Classical High School Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3
11.1
17.2Highest
7.9Lowest
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.