Compare towns

Warwick vs Woonsocket 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

Warwick has the most people working from home (12.4%).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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.

MeasureWarwickWoonsocketJohnston
People
Population
83,175Highest
43,521
29,835Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.2%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
+5%Highest
RI: +4.3%
+2.8%
RI: +4.3%
Median age
44.3±1
9% above RI
35.7±1.3Lowest
12% below RI
44.5±2.5Highest
10% 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
17.6%±1.1
RI: 18.8%
23.3%±2Highest
RI: 18.8%
17.5%±2.4Lowest
RI: 18.8%
Age 65+
21.6%±1.2
RI: 18.7%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
RI: 18.7%
22.1%±2.6Highest
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+
33.7%Highest
RI: 37.7%
19.8%Lowest
RI: 37.7%
28.9%
RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±0.7
RI: 8.3%
5.1%±0.9Lowest
RI: 8.3%
6.1%±1.6Highest
RI: 8.3%
Johnston and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,708±$6k
about the RI average
$61,059±$5kLowest
30% below RI
$91,866±$6kHighest
5% above RI
Johnston and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$354,600±$5k
12% below RI
$311,000±$15kLowest
23% below RI
$355,500±$13kHighest
12% below RI
Johnston and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,363±$76Highest
about the RI average
$1,161±$48Lowest
13% below RI
$1,275±$132
5% below RI
Warwick and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,616Highest
6% below RI
$3,960Lowest
19% below RI
$4,614
6% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.1%±6.1Highest
RI: 48%
46.7%±5.4
RI: 48%
38.1%±8.7Lowest
RI: 48%
Warwick and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.6%Lowest
RI: 11.2%
18.7%Highest
RI: 11.2%
7.9%
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%
RI: 63.6%
37.2%Lowest
RI: 63.6%
75.9%Highest
RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
1 yr older than RI
1952Lowest
10 yrs older than RI
1968Highest
6 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
4% below RI
29 minHighest
15% above RI
24 minLowest
7% below RI
Work from home
12.4%±1.2Highest
RI: 13%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
RI: 13%
9.9%±2.3
RI: 13%
Warwick 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 #28 of 38 in RI #37 of 38 in RI #32 of 38 in RI
School district Warwick RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Johnston
High school in town Pilgrim High School Woonsocket High School Johnston Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.5
15.2Highest
10.3Lowest
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.