Compare towns
Johnston vs Middleton 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k 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.
| Measure | Johnston | Middleton | Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835 |
9,816Lowest |
191,767Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Middleton 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% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Providence and Johnston 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% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and Middleton 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% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$68,119±$3kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$362,200±$8k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
$1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average |
| Providence and Middleton 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. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±2.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Providence and Johnston 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Providence and Middleton 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #36 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Middleton | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | None in town | Classical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 17.2Highest |
| 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.