Compare towns
Cranston vs East Providence
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
East Providence has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
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 | East Providence |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 83,250Highest |
47,281Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+0.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 39.6±0.9Lowest about the RI average |
45.1±2.4Highest 11% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
15.6%±1.8Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
20.8%±1.5Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Highest RI: 37.7% |
31.6%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Cranston and East Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $90,206±$4kHighest about the RI average |
$75,912±$8kLowest 14% below RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,300±$7kHighest 6% below RI |
$365,500±$10kLowest 10% below RI |
| Cranston and East Providence 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 RI average |
$1,288±$75Lowest 4% below RI |
| Cranston and East Providence 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 |
$4,545Lowest 7% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6Lowest RI: 48% |
48.5%±6.5Highest RI: 48% |
| East Providence 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 RI: 11.2% |
10.1%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
59.9%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 4 yrs older than RI |
1958 4 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 5% below RI |
23 minLowest 11% below RI |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
12.4%±2.6Lowest RI: 13% |
| Cranston and East Providence 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 | #29 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | East Providence |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | East Providence High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Lowest |
15.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.