Compare towns
Johnston vs Providence vs Sutton 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Providence | Sutton | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,835 |
191,767Highest |
9,452Lowest |
83,250 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
39.6±0.9 about the U.S. average |
| Johnston and Sutton 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% |
20.1%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Providence and Sutton 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% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and Sutton 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% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$68,119±$3kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$90,206±$4k 12% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$362,200±$8k 9% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$378,300±$7k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,375±$59 about the U.S. average |
| Providence and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,614 48% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,103 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±2.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Providence and Sutton 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% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 38 in RI | #36 of 38 in RI | #105 of 282 in MA | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Sutton | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Classical High School | Sutton High School | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
17.2Highest |
12.6 |
15.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.