What stands out worked out from the figures below

Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

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	Providence	Johnston
People
Population	191,767Highest	29,835Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest RI: +4.3%	+2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	32.8±0.5Lowest 19% below RI	44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI
Kids under 18	20.1%±1Highest RI: 18.8%	17.5%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8%
	Providence and Johnston 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%	22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.6%Highest RI: 37.7%	28.9%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.4%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3%	6.1%±1.6Lowest RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,119±$3kLowest 22% below RI	$91,866±$6kHighest 5% above RI
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,200±$8kHighest 10% below RI	$355,500±$13kLowest 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	$1,275±$132Lowest 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	$4,418Lowest 10% below RI	$4,614Highest 6% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±2.8Highest RI: 48%	38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48%
	Providence and Johnston 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%	7.9%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.4%Lowest RI: 63.6%	75.9%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 24 yrs older than RI	1968Highest 6 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the RI average	24 minLowest 7% below RI
Work from home	14.3%±1.2Highest RI: 13%	9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#36 of 38 in RI	#32 of 38 in RI
School district	MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative	Johnston
High school in town	Classical High School	Johnston Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	17.2Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.