What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).

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	Exeter
People
Population	83,250Highest	7,195Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3%	+0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	39.6±0.9Highest about the RI average	37.7±5.9Lowest 7% below RI
	Cranston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±1.4Lowest RI: 18.8%	19.7%±4.7Highest RI: 18.8%
	Exeter 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 RI: 18.7%	18.2%±3.8Highest RI: 18.7%
	Exeter 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%Lowest RI: 37.7%	46.1%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.8Lowest RI: 8.3%	11.1%±6.3Highest RI: 8.3%
	Exeter and Cranston 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 about the RI average	$111,250±$30kHighest 27% above RI
	Exeter 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 6% below RI	$509,200±$43kHighest 26% above RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$59Highest about the RI average	$1,317±$307Lowest about the RI average
	Cranston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,103Lowest 4% above RI	$5,881Highest 20% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±6Lowest RI: 48%	91%±26.7Highest RI: 48%
Below poverty line	10.2%Lowest RI: 11.2%	12.8%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.6%Lowest RI: 63.6%	80.3%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 4 yrs older than RI	1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 5% below RI	22 minLowest 12% below RI
Work from home	13%±1.2Lowest RI: 13%	17.2%±6.1Highest RI: 13%
	Exeter 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	#14 of 38 in RI
School district	Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston	Exeter-West Greenwich
High school in town	Cranston High School West	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	15.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.