Compare towns
Johnston vs Preston 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 affordable homes ($356k median).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Cranston has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Preston | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835 |
4,821Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.6±0.9Lowest 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. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cranston 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% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1Lowest 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% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest 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. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$90,206±$4kLowest 12% 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±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$378,300±$7kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Cranston and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,375±$59 about the U.S. average |
| Preston and Cranston 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. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
$5,103Highest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Preston 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cranston 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Preston School District | 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.