What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Warwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

Johnston has the most people working from home (9.9%).

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	West Warwick	Johnston
People
Population	31,173Highest	29,835Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest RI: +4.3%	+2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	42.8±1.5Lowest 5% above RI	44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI
	Johnston and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±2.3Lowest RI: 18.8%	17.5%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8%
	Johnston and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.7%	22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7%
	Johnston and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.4%Lowest RI: 37.7%	28.9%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±1.3Lowest RI: 8.3%	6.1%±1.6Highest RI: 8.3%
	Johnston and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,608±$7kLowest 12% below RI	$91,866±$6kHighest 5% above RI
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$330,800±$12kLowest 18% below RI	$355,500±$13kHighest 12% below RI
	Johnston and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,303±$74Highest about the RI average	$1,275±$132Lowest 5% below RI
	West Warwick and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,962Highest about the RI average	$4,614Lowest 6% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.5%±7.8Highest RI: 48%	38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48%
	West Warwick and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest RI: 11.2%	7.9%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57%Lowest RI: 63.6%	75.9%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968 6 yrs newer than RI	1968 6 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the RI average	24 minLowest 7% below RI
Work from home	7.2%±2Lowest RI: 13%	9.9%±2.3Highest RI: 13%
	Johnston and West 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	#33 of 38 in RI	#32 of 38 in RI
School district	West Warwick	Johnston
High school in town	West Warwick High School	Johnston Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.