Compare towns
Johnston vs Upton vs Cranston
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 affordable homes ($356k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Cranston has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Upton | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835 |
8,189Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Upton and Johnston 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Cranston 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cranston 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±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$90,206±$4kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$378,300±$7k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,375±$59Highest about the U.S. average |
| Cranston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,103 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Cranston 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 38 in RI | #46 of 282 in MA | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Blackstone Valley | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.2 |
15.4Highest |
| 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.