What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

Johnston has the most homeowners (75.9%).

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	North Providence	Johnston
People
Population	34,293Highest	29,835Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest RI: +4.3%	+2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	42.1±1.9Lowest 4% above RI	44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI
	Johnston and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±2.3Highest RI: 18.8%	17.5%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8%
	North Providence and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.7%	22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7%
	Johnston and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Highest RI: 37.7%	28.9%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3%	6.1%±1.6Lowest RI: 8.3%
	North Providence and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,756±$6kLowest 5% below RI	$91,866±$6kHighest 5% above RI
	Johnston and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$355,900±$12kHighest 12% below RI	$355,500±$13kLowest 12% below RI
	North Providence and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,405±$64Highest 5% above RI	$1,275±$132Lowest 5% below RI
	North Providence and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,843Highest about the RI average	$4,614Lowest 6% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.7%±6.2Highest RI: 48%	38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48%
	North Providence and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest RI: 11.2%	7.9%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.9%Lowest RI: 63.6%	75.9%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 8 yrs newer than RI	1968Lowest 6 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 7% above RI	24 minLowest 7% below RI
Work from home	12.4%±2.5Highest RI: 13%	9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13%
	North Providence and Johnston 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	#26 of 38 in RI	#32 of 38 in RI
School district	North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island	Johnston
High school in town	North Providence High	Johnston Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.