What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

Cranston has the most affordable homes ($378k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Andover	Cranston
People
Population	36,652Lowest	83,250Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Highest 10% above U.S.	39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	16.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Cranston and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.	$90,206±$4kLowest 12% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S.	$378,300±$7kLowest 14% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S.	$1,375±$59Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$5,103Lowest 64% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.3%±6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Cranston and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#68 of 282 in MA	#27 of 38 in RI
School district	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston
High school in town	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Cranston High School West
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	15.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.