Compare towns
Cranston vs Exeter vs Warwick
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%).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Warwick has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Exeter | Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,250Highest |
7,195Lowest |
83,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+0.5% RI: +4.3% |
+0.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 39.6±0.9 about the RI average |
37.7±5.9Lowest 7% below RI |
44.3±1Highest 9% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4 RI: 18.8% |
19.7%±4.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
17.6%±1.1Lowest 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%±3.8 RI: 18.7% |
21.6%±1.2Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Warwick and Exeter 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% |
46.1%Highest RI: 37.7% |
33.7%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8 RI: 8.3% |
11.1%±6.3Highest RI: 8.3% |
5.6%±0.7Lowest 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±$4k about the RI average |
$111,250±$30kHighest 27% above RI |
$88,708±$6kLowest about the RI average |
| 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±$7k 6% below RI |
$509,200±$43kHighest 26% above RI |
$354,600±$5kLowest 12% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$59Highest about the RI average |
$1,317±$307Lowest about the RI average |
$1,363±$76 about the RI average |
| Cranston and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,103 4% above RI |
$5,881Highest 20% above RI |
$4,616Lowest 6% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6Lowest RI: 48% |
91%±26.7Highest RI: 48% |
53.1%±6.1 RI: 48% |
| Below poverty line | 10.2% RI: 11.2% |
12.8%Highest RI: 11.2% |
7.6%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
80.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
73.3% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 4 yrs older than RI |
1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI |
1961 1 yr older than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 5% below RI |
22 minLowest 12% below RI |
25 minHighest 4% below RI |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2 RI: 13% |
17.2%±6.1Highest RI: 13% |
12.4%±1.2Lowest 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 | #28 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Exeter-West Greenwich | Warwick |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | None in town | Pilgrim High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
— | 10.5Lowest |
| 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.