What stands out worked out from the figures below

Johnston has the most kids (17.5% under 18).

Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Johnston	Thompson
People
Population	29,835Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S.
	Thompson and Johnston 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.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Johnston and Thompson 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.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Johnston	Thompson School District
High school in town	Johnston Senior High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.