Compare towns
West Warwick vs Johnston vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Warwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Johnston has the most homeowners (75.9%).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k median).
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 | West Warwick | Johnston | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,173Highest |
29,835 |
22,220Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+2.8% RI: +4.3% |
-2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 42.8±1.5Lowest 5% above RI |
44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI |
43±2.2 6% above RI |
| Johnston and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±2.3 RI: 18.8% |
17.5%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest 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%±2.6 RI: 18.7% |
22.9%±2Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Bristol and Johnston 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% RI: 37.7% |
47.6%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±1.3Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.1%±1.6 RI: 8.3% |
18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,608±$7kLowest 12% below RI |
$91,866±$6k 5% above RI |
$97,764±$8kHighest 11% above RI |
| Bristol and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,800±$12kLowest 18% below RI |
$355,500±$13k 12% below RI |
$485,000±$25kHighest 20% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,303±$74 about the RI average |
$1,275±$132Lowest 5% below RI |
$1,579±$118Highest 18% above RI |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,962 about the RI average |
$4,614Lowest 6% below RI |
$5,393Highest 10% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±7.8Highest RI: 48% |
38.1%±8.7 RI: 48% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest 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% RI: 11.2% |
6.5%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
75.9%Highest RI: 63.6% |
66.1% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 6 yrs newer than RI |
1968Highest 6 yrs newer than RI |
1964Lowest 2 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest about the RI average |
24 minLowest 7% below RI |
25 min about the RI average |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2Lowest RI: 13% |
9.9%±2.3 RI: 13% |
11.2%±2.7Highest RI: 13% |
| Bristol 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 | #33 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | West Warwick | Johnston | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | West Warwick High School | Johnston Senior High | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
10.3Lowest |
12.5 |
| 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.