Compare towns
Providence vs Johnston vs Warwick
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%).
Johnston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Warwick has the most affordable homes ($355k median).
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 | Johnston | Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 191,767Highest |
29,835Lowest |
83,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+2.8% RI: +4.3% |
+0.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 32.8±0.5Lowest 19% below RI |
44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI |
44.3±1 9% above RI |
| Johnston and Warwick 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% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
17.6%±1.1 RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 11.6%±0.7Lowest RI: 18.7% |
22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
21.6%±1.2 RI: 18.7% |
| Johnston and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Highest RI: 37.7% |
28.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
33.7% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
6.1%±1.6 RI: 8.3% |
5.6%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,119±$3kLowest 22% below RI |
$91,866±$6kHighest 5% above RI |
$88,708±$6k about the RI average |
| Johnston and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$8kHighest 10% below RI |
$355,500±$13k 12% below RI |
$354,600±$5kLowest 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 |
$1,363±$76 about the RI average |
| Providence and Warwick 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 |
$4,614 6% below RI |
$4,616Highest 6% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±2.8 RI: 48% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
53.1%±6.1Highest RI: 48% |
| Warwick and Providence 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% RI: 11.2% |
7.6%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.4%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
75.9%Highest RI: 63.6% |
73.3% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 24 yrs older than RI |
1968Highest 6 yrs newer than RI |
1961 1 yr older than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest about the RI average |
24 minLowest 7% below RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
12.4%±1.2 RI: 13% |
| Providence and Warwick 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 | #32 of 38 in RI | #28 of 38 in RI |
| School district | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Johnston | Warwick |
| High school in town | Classical High School | Johnston Senior High | Pilgrim High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.2Highest |
10.3Lowest |
10.5 |
| 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.