Compare towns
Johnston vs West Warwick vs Woonsocket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnston has the most people working from home (9.9%).
West Warwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | West Warwick | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835Lowest |
31,173 |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+6.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+5% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI |
42.8±1.5 5% above RI |
35.7±1.3Lowest 12% below RI |
| Johnston and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
15.7%±2.3Lowest RI: 18.8% |
23.3%±2Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
20%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Johnston and West 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%Highest RI: 37.7% |
26.4% RI: 37.7% |
19.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6Highest RI: 8.3% |
5.7%±1.3 RI: 8.3% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Johnston and West 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 5% above RI |
$77,608±$7k 12% below RI |
$61,059±$5kLowest 30% below RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13kHighest 12% below RI |
$330,800±$12k 18% below RI |
$311,000±$15kLowest 23% below RI |
| Johnston and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 5% below RI |
$1,303±$74Highest about the RI average |
$1,161±$48Lowest 13% below RI |
| West 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 6% below RI |
$4,962Highest about the RI average |
$3,960Lowest 19% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
43.5%±7.8 RI: 48% |
46.7%±5.4Highest RI: 48% |
| Woonsocket and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
9.6% RI: 11.2% |
18.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest RI: 63.6% |
57% RI: 63.6% |
37.2%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 6 yrs newer than RI |
1968Highest 6 yrs newer than RI |
1952Lowest 10 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 7% below RI |
25 min about the RI average |
29 minHighest 15% above RI |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Highest RI: 13% |
7.2%±2 RI: 13% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest RI: 13% |
| Johnston and West Warwick 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 | #33 of 38 in RI | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | West Warwick | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | West Warwick High School | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
13.0 |
15.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.