What stands out worked out from the figures below

Johnston has the most homeowners (75.9%).

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

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

Measure	Johnston	Webster
People
Population	29,835Highest	17,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.	39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average
	Johnston and Webster 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%	19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Johnston 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%	19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Johnston and Webster 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%	25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Johnston and Webster 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.	$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S.	$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S.
	Webster and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S.	$1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S.
	Johnston and Webster 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.	$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster and Johnston 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%	12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	9.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Johnston and Webster 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	#271 of 282 in MA
School district	Johnston	Webster
High school in town	Johnston Senior High	Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.