Compare towns
Central Falls vs Cranston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Cranston has the most homeowners (67.6%).
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 | Central Falls | Cranston |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 22,701Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 20% below RI |
39.6±0.9Highest about the RI average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.6%±1.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 10.7%±2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
16.8%±1.1Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
36.4%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.3%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cranston and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $49,285±$8kLowest 44% below RI |
$90,206±$4kHighest about the RI average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30kLowest 13% below RI |
$378,300±$7kHighest 6% below RI |
| Cranston and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$75Lowest 11% below RI |
$1,375±$59Highest about the RI average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,744Lowest 24% below RI |
$5,103Highest 4% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2Highest RI: 48% |
47.3%±6Lowest RI: 48% |
| Central Falls and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 24.6%Highest RI: 11.2% |
10.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
67.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 18 yrs older than RI |
1958Highest 4 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 7% above RI |
24 minLowest 5% below RI |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest RI: 13% |
13%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 38 in RI | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Lowest |
15.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.