Compare towns
Johnston vs Pomfret 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 most renters (24.1% rent).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (13.2%).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
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 | Pomfret | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
4,317Lowest |
4,821 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7 18% above U.S. |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Preston and Pomfret 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% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret 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% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Preston and Pomfret 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. |
$409,100±$28kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,210±$300Lowest 14% 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 | $4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Preston 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pomfret and Preston 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Johnston | Pomfret School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 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.