Compare towns
Johnston vs Providence vs Thompson
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 the most renters (58.6% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835 |
191,767Highest |
9,337Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Providence and Johnston 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest 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% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$68,119±$3kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$362,200±$8kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Providence and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Providence and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,614Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% 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% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Providence and Thompson 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 | #36 of 38 in RI | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Johnston | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Classical High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
17.2Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.