Compare towns
Johnston vs Providence vs Sutton vs Scituate
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 most people working from home (22.7%).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,835 |
191,767Highest |
9,452Lowest |
10,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest 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%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate 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% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% 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% |
4.2%±1.7 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. |
$112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Scituate 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. |
$362,200±$8k 9% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,408±$42 about the U.S. average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,489±$251Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Providence 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. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±2.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Scituate and Providence 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest 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% |
87.3% 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. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above 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% |
13.3%±5.1 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 | #17 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Sutton | Scituate |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Classical High School | Sutton High School | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
17.2Highest |
12.6 |
10.8 |
| 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.