Compare towns

Johnston vs Putnam vs Warwick

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 affordable homes ($269k median).
Warwick has the most people working from home (12.4%).

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.

MeasureJohnstonPutnamWarwick
People
Population
29,835
9,292Lowest
83,175Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+0.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.5±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
43.7±3Lowest
12% above U.S.
44.3±1
14% above U.S.
Johnston and Warwick 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%
18.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.6%±1.1
U.S.: 22%
Putnam and Warwick 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%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±1.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Johnston and Warwick 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%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±0.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Johnston and Warwick 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.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$88,708±$6k
10% above U.S.
Johnston and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$355,500±$13kHighest
7% above U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$354,600±$5k
7% above U.S.
Johnston and Warwick 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.
$1,149±$44Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,363±$76Highest
4% below U.S.
Warwick 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.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$4,616Highest
48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±8.7
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.1%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
25 minHighest
6% below U.S.
25 min
7% below U.S.
Work from home
9.9%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Warwick 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 #28 of 38 in RI
School district Johnston Putnam School District Warwick
High school in town Johnston Senior High Putnam High School Pilgrim High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3
9.5Lowest
10.5Highest
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.