Compare towns
Johnston vs Putnam vs Cumberland
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).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Putnam | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835 |
7,120Lowest |
36,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Cumberland 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% |
18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Putnam 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% |
17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and Cumberland 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% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston and Putnam 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. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$431,000±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,379±$109Highest about the U.S. average |
| Cumberland and Johnston 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. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,870Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cumberland and Putnam 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% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | — | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | — | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
| 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.