Compare towns
Providence vs Central Falls vs Johnston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
Towns like ProvidenceWarwick
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Providence has the most people working from home (14.3%).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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.
| Measure | Providence | Central Falls | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 191,767Highest |
22,701Lowest |
29,835 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% RI: +4.3% |
+16.6%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 32.8±0.5 19% below RI |
32.5±2.3Lowest 20% below RI |
44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1 RI: 18.8% |
26.1%±3.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 11.6%±0.7 RI: 18.7% |
10.7%±2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Highest RI: 37.7% |
10.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
28.9% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.6%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.1%±1.6 RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,119±$3k 22% below RI |
$49,285±$8kLowest 44% below RI |
$91,866±$6kHighest 5% above RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$8kHighest 10% below RI |
$352,100±$30kLowest 13% below RI |
$355,500±$13k 12% below RI |
| Providence and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$42Highest 5% above RI |
$1,200±$75Lowest 11% below RI |
$1,275±$132 5% below RI |
| Providence and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 10% below RI |
$3,744Lowest 24% below RI |
$4,614Highest 6% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±2.8 RI: 48% |
56.7%±8.2Highest RI: 48% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
| Central Falls and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.7% RI: 11.2% |
24.6%Highest RI: 11.2% |
7.9%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.4% RI: 63.6% |
25.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
75.9%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 24 yrs older than RI |
1944 18 yrs older than RI |
1968Highest 6 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the RI average |
27 minHighest 7% above RI |
24 minLowest 7% below RI |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
5.2%±2Lowest RI: 13% |
9.9%±2.3 RI: 13% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #36 of 38 in RI | #38 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Johnston |
| High school in town | Classical High School | Central Falls Sr High | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.2Highest |
14.6 |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.