What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Webster	Johnston
People
Population	17,748Lowest	29,835Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Johnston and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Johnston and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Johnston and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S.	$91,866±$6kHighest 14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S.	$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S.
	Webster and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S.
	Johnston and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S.	$4,614Highest 48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Johnston and Webster 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	#271 of 282 in MA	#32 of 38 in RI
School district	Webster	Johnston
High school in town	Bartlett High School	Johnston Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.