Compare towns
Providence vs Glocester vs Warwick vs Johnston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Glocester has the highest household income ($114k).
Warwick has the most affordable homes ($355k median).
Johnston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Glocester | Warwick | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 191,767Highest |
10,221Lowest |
83,175 |
29,835 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+2.3% RI: +4.3% |
+0.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+2.8% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 32.8±0.5Lowest 19% below RI |
50.8±4.3Highest 25% above RI |
44.3±1 9% above RI |
44.5±2.5 10% above RI |
| Glocester and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.8%±4.3 RI: 18.8% |
17.6%±1.1 RI: 18.8% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Providence and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.6%±0.7Lowest RI: 18.7% |
22.2%±3.4Highest RI: 18.7% |
21.6%±1.2 RI: 18.7% |
22.1%±2.6 RI: 18.7% |
| Glocester and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% RI: 37.7% |
35.7%Highest RI: 37.7% |
33.7% RI: 37.7% |
28.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest RI: 8.3% |
5.6%±0.7 RI: 8.3% |
6.1%±1.6 RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,119±$3kLowest 22% below RI |
$113,508±$7kHighest 29% above RI |
$88,708±$6k about the RI average |
$91,866±$6k 5% above RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$8k 10% below RI |
$396,500±$28kHighest about the RI average |
$354,600±$5kLowest 12% below RI |
$355,500±$13k 12% below RI |
| Glocester and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$42 5% above RI |
$1,417±$627Highest 6% above RI |
$1,363±$76 about the RI average |
$1,275±$132Lowest 5% below RI |
| Glocester and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 10% below RI |
$5,248Highest 7% above RI |
$4,616 6% below RI |
$4,614 6% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±2.8 RI: 48% |
64.5%±24Highest RI: 48% |
53.1%±6.1 RI: 48% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
| Glocester and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
7.6% RI: 11.2% |
7.9% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.4%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
91%Highest RI: 63.6% |
73.3% RI: 63.6% |
75.9% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 24 yrs older than RI |
1975Highest 13 yrs newer than RI |
1961 1 yr older than RI |
1968 6 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the RI average |
34 minHighest 35% above RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
24 minLowest 7% below RI |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
13.1%±4.7 RI: 13% |
12.4%±1.2 RI: 13% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
| Providence and Glocester 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 | #36 of 38 in RI | #12 of 38 in RI | #28 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Warwick | Johnston |
| High school in town | Classical High School | Ponaganset High School | Pilgrim High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.2Highest |
12.8 |
10.5 |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.