What stands out worked out from the figures below

Preston has the highest household income ($117k).

Johnston has the most renters (24.1% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Preston	Johnston
People
Population	4,821Lowest	29,835Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S.	44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Preston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Preston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Preston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Johnston and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S.	$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S.
	Preston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,900±$13kHighest 9% above U.S.	$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S.
	Preston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average	$1,275±$132Lowest 10% below U.S.
	Preston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,749Highest 52% above U.S.	$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Preston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	24 minHighest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	10.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Preston 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	#93 of 149 in CT	#32 of 38 in RI
School district	Preston School District	Johnston
High school in town	None in town	Johnston Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.