Compare towns
Johnston vs Plainville 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 most homeowners (75.9%).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Cranston has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Plainville | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835 |
9,943Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cranston and Plainville 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest 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±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$90,206±$4kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Plainville 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±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$378,300±$7k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,375±$59 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$5,329Highest 71% above U.S. |
$5,103 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Cranston 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% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville and Cranston 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Plainville | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | None in town | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 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.