Compare towns
Johnston vs Putnam vs North Providence
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 homeowners (75.9%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
North Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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 | North Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835 |
7,120Lowest |
34,293Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.1±1.9 8% above U.S. |
| Johnston and North Providence 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%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and North Providence 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% |
20.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and North Providence 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% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Providence 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±$6kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$83,756±$6k 4% above U.S. |
| Johnston and North Providence 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. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$355,900±$12kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| North 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. |
$1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,405±$64Highest about the U.S. average |
| North Providence 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. |
$4,843Highest 55% 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% |
42.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Providence and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Providence and Johnston 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #26 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | — | North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | — | North Providence High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.