Compare towns
Johnston vs Putnam vs 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).
Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835 |
7,120Lowest |
191,767Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Putnam 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% |
20.1%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Providence 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%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and Putnam 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% |
34.6%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% |
14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$68,119±$3k 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$362,200±$8kHighest 9% above 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. |
$1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% 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% |
48%±2.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT | #36 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | — | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | — | Classical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 17.2Highest |
| 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.