What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).

Johnston has the most kids (17.5% under 18).

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	Thompson	Johnston
People
Population	9,337Lowest	29,835Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.	44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S.	$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S.
	Thompson and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.	$355,500±$13kHighest 7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S.
	Johnston and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.	$4,614Highest 48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thompson and Johnston 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	#130 of 149 in CT	#32 of 38 in RI
School district	Thompson School District	Johnston
High school in town	Tourtellotte Memorial High School	Johnston Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9Lowest	10.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.