Compare towns
Johnston vs Plainfield vs Preston
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 housing (typical home built 1968).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
15,141 |
4,821Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Preston 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% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston and Plainfield 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. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Preston and Johnston 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. |
$361,900±$13kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Preston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Preston 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. |
$4,749Highest 52% 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% |
52.6%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Preston and Plainfield 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Preston 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 | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Johnston | Plainfield School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
10.3 |
— |
| 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.