What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cranston has the shortest commute (24 min average).

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

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

Measure	Cranston	Douglas
People
Population	83,250Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average	44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Douglas and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Cranston and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Cranston and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,206±$4kLowest 12% above U.S.	$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$378,300±$7kLowest 14% above U.S.	$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$59Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S.
	Douglas and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,103Lowest 64% above U.S.	$6,338Highest 103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Cranston and Douglas 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%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer 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%	20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#27 of 38 in RI	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston	Douglas
High school in town	Cranston High School West	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.4Highest	7.2Lowest
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.