What stands out worked out from the figures below

Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).

Millbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Johnston	Millbury
People
Population	29,835Highest	13,961Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.	42.6±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Johnston and Millbury 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%	20.9%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Millbury 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%	20.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Johnston and Millbury 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%	36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Johnston and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S.	$118,790±$13kHighest 47% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S.	$450,100±$19kHighest 35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,275±$132Lowest 10% below U.S.	$1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S.
	Millbury 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.	$5,406Highest 73% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	43.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Millbury and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.8%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Millbury and Johnston 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	#202 of 282 in MA
School district	Johnston	Millbury
High school in town	Johnston Senior High	Millbury Junior/Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	11.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.