Compare towns
Johnston vs Killingly vs Upton 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Cranston has the most renters (32.4% 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.
| Measure | Johnston | Killingly | Upton | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,835 |
17,867 |
8,189Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.6±0.9 about the U.S. average |
| Upton and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and Upton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$90,206±$4k 12% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$378,300±$7k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% 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 | $4,614 48% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,103 64% 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% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 38 in RI | #136 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Killingly High School | Blackstone Valley | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
11.2 |
15.4Highest |
| 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.