Compare towns
Cranston vs Cumberland vs Pawtucket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cranston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Pawtucket has the most renters (49.9% rent).
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 | Cranston | Cumberland | Pawtucket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,250Highest |
36,820Lowest |
75,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+8.7%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+6.3% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 39.6±0.9 about the RI average |
43.5±1.2Highest 7% above RI |
37.1±0.8Lowest 9% below RI |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
23.4%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
22.4%±1.6 RI: 18.8% |
| Cumberland and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.1 RI: 18.7% |
18.9%±1.7Highest RI: 18.7% |
14.5%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Cumberland 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% RI: 37.7% |
44.8%Highest RI: 37.7% |
22.2%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
5.6%±0.8 RI: 8.3% |
| Cranston and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,206±$4k about the RI average |
$117,522±$8kHighest 34% above RI |
$68,310±$4kLowest 22% below RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,300±$7k 6% below RI |
$431,000±$15kHighest 7% above RI |
$325,500±$8kLowest 19% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$59 about the RI average |
$1,379±$109Highest about the RI average |
$1,208±$39Lowest 10% below RI |
| Cumberland and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,103Highest 4% above RI |
$4,870 about the RI average |
$4,115Lowest 16% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6 RI: 48% |
47.9%±9.2Highest RI: 48% |
45.9%±4.4Lowest RI: 48% |
| Cumberland and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% RI: 11.2% |
3.9%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
13.3%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6% RI: 63.6% |
76.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
50.1%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 4 yrs older than RI |
1972Highest 10 yrs newer than RI |
1947Lowest 15 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 5% below RI |
26 minHighest 3% above RI |
26 min about the RI average |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2 RI: 13% |
14.8%±2.4Highest RI: 13% |
9.2%±1.5Lowest RI: 13% |
| Cumberland 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 | #18 of 38 in RI | #35 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | Cumberland High School | William E. Tolman High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
13.6Lowest |
14.6 |
| 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.