Compare towns
Central Falls vs Cranston vs West Warwick
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 people working from home (13%).
West Warwick has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
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 | West Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,701Lowest |
83,250Highest |
31,173 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+6.2% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 20% below RI |
39.6±0.9 about the RI average |
42.8±1.5Highest 5% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.6%±1.4 RI: 18.8% |
15.7%±2.3Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 10.7%±2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
16.8%±1.1 RI: 18.7% |
20%±2.1Highest RI: 18.7% |
| West Warwick and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
36.4%Highest RI: 37.7% |
26.4% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.3%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
5.7%±1.3 RI: 8.3% |
| Cranston 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 | $49,285±$8kLowest 44% below RI |
$90,206±$4kHighest about the RI average |
$77,608±$7k 12% below RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30k 13% below RI |
$378,300±$7kHighest 6% below RI |
$330,800±$12kLowest 18% 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 |
$1,303±$74 about the RI average |
| Cranston and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,744Lowest 24% below RI |
$5,103Highest 4% above RI |
$4,962 about the RI average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2Highest RI: 48% |
47.3%±6 RI: 48% |
43.5%±7.8Lowest 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% RI: 11.2% |
9.6%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
67.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
57% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 18 yrs older than RI |
1958 4 yrs older than RI |
1968Highest 6 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 7% above RI |
24 minLowest 5% below RI |
25 min about the RI average |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest RI: 13% |
13%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
7.2%±2 RI: 13% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 38 in RI | #27 of 38 in RI | #33 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | West Warwick |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | Cranston High School West | West Warwick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
15.4Highest |
13.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.