What stands out worked out from the figures below

Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).

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	Woonsocket	Johnston
People
Population	43,521Highest	29,835Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Highest RI: +4.3%	+2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	35.7±1.3Lowest 12% below RI	44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI
Kids under 18	23.3%±2Highest RI: 18.8%	17.5%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8%
Age 65+	14.7%±1.4Lowest RI: 18.7%	22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.8%Lowest RI: 37.7%	28.9%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±0.9Lowest RI: 8.3%	6.1%±1.6Highest RI: 8.3%
	Johnston and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,059±$5kLowest 30% below RI	$91,866±$6kHighest 5% above RI
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,000±$15kLowest 23% below RI	$355,500±$13kHighest 12% below RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,161±$48Lowest 13% below RI	$1,275±$132Highest 5% below RI
	Johnston and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,960Lowest 19% below RI	$4,614Highest 6% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.7%±5.4Highest RI: 48%	38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48%
	Woonsocket and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.7%Highest RI: 11.2%	7.9%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.2%Lowest RI: 63.6%	75.9%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 10 yrs older than RI	1968Highest 6 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 15% above RI	24 minLowest 7% below RI
Work from home	6.4%±1.7Lowest RI: 13%	9.9%±2.3Highest RI: 13%
	Johnston and Woonsocket 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	#37 of 38 in RI	#32 of 38 in RI
School district	RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket	Johnston
High school in town	Woonsocket High School	Johnston Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.2Highest	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.