What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).

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	Plainville
People
Population	29,835Highest	17,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.	44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Johnston and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Johnston and Plainville 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%	20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Johnston and Plainville 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%	30%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville 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.	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
	Johnston and Plainville 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.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S.	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Johnston and Plainville 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.	$4,798Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainville 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%	6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 11% below U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainville 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	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Johnston	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Johnston Senior High	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	11.4Highest
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.