Compare towns
Providence vs Plainfield vs Killingly vs Johnston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Providence has the most renters (58.6% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Johnston has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Plainfield | Killingly | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 191,767Highest |
15,141Lowest |
17,867 |
29,835 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Providence and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and Killingly 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,119±$3kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$8kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
| 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 42% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,614Highest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±2.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Providence and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Providence and Killingly 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Johnston |
| High school in town | Classical High School | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.2Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.