Compare towns
Johnston vs Plainfield vs Sterling
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 most expensive homes ($356k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
15,141 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Johnston and Sterling 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%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling 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%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% 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% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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±$13kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Johnston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,614Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Johnston | Plainfield School District | Sterling 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.