Compare towns
Johnston vs Willimantic vs Providence
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 homeowners (75.9%).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Willimantic | Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835 |
18,096Lowest |
191,767Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
31.3±2.7Lowest 20% below U.S. |
32.8±0.5 16% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.6%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$45,962±$7kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$68,119±$3k 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$190,900±$17kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$362,200±$8kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Providence and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,063±$68Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average |
| Providence and Johnston 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. |
$4,678Highest 50% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±2.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Willimantic and Providence 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% |
23.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
41.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 38 in RI | — | #36 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | — | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | — | Classical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 17.2Highest |
| 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.