Compare towns

Johnston vs Windham 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%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Providence has the most people working from home (14.3%).

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.

MeasureJohnstonWindhamProvidence
People
Population
29,835
23,961Lowest
191,767Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.5±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
33.7±1.9
13% below U.S.
32.8±0.5Lowest
16% below U.S.
Kids under 18
17.5%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
22.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.3%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
11.6%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.7%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%
15.2%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.4%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Windham and Providence 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.
$55,736±$5kLowest
31% below U.S.
$68,119±$3k
16% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$355,500±$13k
7% above U.S.
$209,800±$9kLowest
37% 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.
$1,107±$69Lowest
22% 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.
$4,633Highest
49% above U.S.
$4,418Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48%±2.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham 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%
20.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
20.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
47.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
41.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1956
24 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
25 minHighest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
9.9%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
6.1%±1.7Lowest
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 #143 of 149 in CT #36 of 38 in RI
School district Johnston Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative
High school in town Johnston Senior High Windham High School Classical High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3
9.8Lowest
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.