Compare towns
Johnston vs Plainfield 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 oldest population (median age 44.5).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Cranston has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Plainfield | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835 |
15,141Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.6±0.9 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cranston and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest 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±$6kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$90,206±$4k 12% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Cranston 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. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$378,300±$7kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% 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. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,103Highest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cranston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cranston and Plainfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Plainfield School District | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Plainfield High School | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.3Lowest |
15.4Highest |
| 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.