Compare towns
West Warwick vs Plainfield vs Windsor Locks vs Johnston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Warwick has the most renters (43% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Johnston has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Plainfield | Windsor Locks | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 31,173Highest |
15,141 |
12,579Lowest |
29,835 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±1.5 10% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,608±$7k 4% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$91,866±$6kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,800±$12k about the U.S. average |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$355,500±$13kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| 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±$74 8% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,962Highest 59% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,614 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±7.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | West Warwick | Plainfield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Johnston |
| High school in town | West Warwick High School | Plainfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
10.3 |
8.9Lowest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.