Compare towns
Johnston vs Windsor Locks vs Plainfield 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 highest household income ($92k).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Providence has the most renters (58.6% 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 | Windsor Locks | Plainfield | Providence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,835 |
12,579Lowest |
15,141 |
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. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Providence and Plainfield 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$68,119±$3kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% 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. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average |
| Providence and Windsor Locks 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±2.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Providence 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #36 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Windsor Locks School District | Plainfield School District | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Windsor Locks High School | Plainfield High School | Classical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
8.9Lowest |
10.3 |
17.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.