Compare towns
Johnston vs Suffield vs Providence 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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Providence has the most renters (58.6% rent).
Cumberland has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Suffield | Providence | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,835 |
15,702Lowest |
191,767Highest |
36,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and 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% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$68,119±$3kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$117,522±$8k 46% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$362,200±$8k 9% above U.S. |
$431,000±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,408±$42 about the U.S. average |
$1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
| Suffield and Providence 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. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,870 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±2.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suffield 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Cumberland 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #36 of 38 in RI | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Suffield School District | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Suffield High School | Classical High School | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.9 |
17.2Highest |
13.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.