Compare towns
West 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
West Warwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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.
| Measure | West Warwick | Woonsocket | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,173 |
43,521Highest |
29,835Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+5% RI: +4.3% |
+2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 42.8±1.5 5% above RI |
35.7±1.3Lowest 12% below 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% |
23.3%±2Highest RI: 18.8% |
17.5%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 20%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest 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% RI: 37.7% |
19.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
28.9%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±1.3 RI: 8.3% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest 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±$7k 12% below RI |
$61,059±$5kLowest 30% below RI |
$91,866±$6kHighest 5% above RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,800±$12k 18% below RI |
$311,000±$15kLowest 23% 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 |
$1,161±$48Lowest 13% below RI |
$1,275±$132 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 |
$3,960Lowest 19% below RI |
$4,614 6% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±7.8 RI: 48% |
46.7%±5.4Highest RI: 48% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
| Woonsocket 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% RI: 11.2% |
18.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
7.9%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57% RI: 63.6% |
37.2%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
75.9%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 6 yrs newer than RI |
1952Lowest 10 yrs older than RI |
1968Highest 6 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the RI average |
29 minHighest 15% above RI |
24 minLowest 7% below RI |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2 RI: 13% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | West Warwick | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Johnston |
| High school in town | West Warwick High School | Woonsocket High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
15.2Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.