What stands out worked out from the figures below

Johnston has the most homeowners (75.9%).

North Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

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	North Providence
People
Population	29,835Lowest	34,293Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3%	+6.3%Highest RI: +4.3%
Median age	44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI	42.1±1.9Lowest 4% above RI
	Johnston and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8%	17.7%±2.3Highest RI: 18.8%
	North 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 RI: 18.7%	20.9%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.7%
	Johnston and North Providence 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 RI: 37.7%	36.9%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.6Lowest RI: 8.3%	6.2%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3%
	North Providence 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±$6kHighest 5% above RI	$83,756±$6kLowest 5% below RI
	Johnston and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$355,500±$13kLowest 12% below RI	$355,900±$12kHighest 12% below RI
	North 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±$132Lowest 5% below RI	$1,405±$64Highest 5% above RI
	North Providence and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,614Lowest 6% below RI	$4,843Highest about the RI average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48%	42.7%±6.2Highest RI: 48%
	North 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%Lowest RI: 11.2%	9.3%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Highest RI: 63.6%	63.9%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 6 yrs newer than RI	1970Highest 8 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 7% below RI	27 minHighest 7% above RI
Work from home	9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13%	12.4%±2.5Highest RI: 13%
	North Providence 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	#26 of 38 in RI
School district	Johnston	North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island
High school in town	Johnston Senior High	North Providence High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

RI 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.