The Town FilesJohnston, Rhode Island
Town in Providence County · population 29,568 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $355,500
- Household income
- $91,866
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 44.5
Johnston is a town of 29,568 people in Providence County, Rhode Island. The median home is worth $355,500, below the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 93% of Rhode Island towns, easier by car than 88% of Rhode Island towns.
How Johnston ranks
Percentile among Rhode Island towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Rhode Island towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Johnston is worth $355,500, below the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $91,866, which is more affordable than 74% of Rhode Island towns. Median rent is $1,275 a month. 75.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Johnston | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $355,500 | $432,850 |
| Median rent | $1,275 | $1,362 |
| Median household income | $91,866 | $102,946 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 4.3× |
| Homeownership | 75.9% | 75.9% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Johnston
| People | Johnston | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 | 43.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.9% | 40.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 6.2% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 12.4% |
| Average commute | 23.6 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.7% | 93.3% |
Weather in Johnston
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 22.1°F. About 47.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.6 inches of snow (typical Rhode Island town: 36.6 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Johnston since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical Rhode Island town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 18, 2023 about 0.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 29, 2019.
Severe weather in Providence County since 1996
Providence County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for other, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4765: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4766: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| January 7, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4753: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| May 12, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4653: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 21, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3563: Hurricane Henri |
Jobs and pay in Providence County
Providence County had 288,107 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,852 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Johnston itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Public schools in Johnston
8 public schools with 3,116 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston Senior High | 9-12 | 805 | 10.9 |
| Nicholas A. Ferri Middle | 6-8 | 738 | 12.3 |
| Winsor Hill School | 1-5 | 380 | 12.3 |
| Thornton School | 1-5 | 346 | 11.5 |
| Sarah Dyer Barnes School | K-5 | 280 | 10.4 |
| Brown Avenue School | 1-5 | 215 | 13.4 |
| Early Childhood Center | K-K | 208 | 11.6 |
| Graniteville School | PK-PK | 144 | 18.0 |
Towns near Johnston
- Greenville, RI4.0 mi · 9,061 people · home $434,700
- North Providence, RI4.0 mi · 34,114 people · home $355,900
- Cranston, RI4.4 mi · 82,934 people · home $378,300
- Smithfield, RI5.1 mi · 22,118 people · home $446,400
- Providence, RI5.2 mi · 190,934 people · home $362,200
- Scituate, RI5.9 mi · 10,384 people · home $449,300
- Lincoln, RI7.1 mi · 22,529 people · home $450,600
- Central Falls, RI7.8 mi · 22,583 people · home $352,100
Johnston questions
Is Johnston, Rhode Island a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Johnston scores better for retirees than 26% of Rhode Island towns and quieter than 48%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.5).
How much does a house cost in Johnston?
The median owner-occupied home in Johnston is valued at $355,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,866, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,275 a month.
What is the weather like in Johnston?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 22.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 36.6 inches of snow.
Does Johnston get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Johnston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 18, 2023. The typical Rhode Island town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)