What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cranston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).

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	Cranston	Blackstone
People
Population	83,250Highest	9,255Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average	43.2±1.7Highest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Blackstone and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Blackstone and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,206±$4kLowest 12% above U.S.	$94,191±$21kHighest 17% above U.S.
	Blackstone and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$378,300±$7kLowest 14% above U.S.	$404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S.
	Blackstone and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$59Highest about the U.S. average	$1,189±$85Lowest 16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,103Lowest 64% above U.S.	$5,703Highest 83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Blackstone and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	13%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Blackstone and Cranston 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	#27 of 38 in RI	#207 of 282 in MA
School district	Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston	Blackstone-Millville
High school in town	Cranston High School West	Blackstone Millville RHS
Students per teacherat that high school	15.4Highest	13.6Lowest
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.