What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Glocester has the most homeowners (91%).

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	Glocester
People
Population	83,250Highest	10,221Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3%	+2.3%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	39.6±0.9Lowest about the RI average	50.8±4.3Highest 25% above RI
Kids under 18	19.6%±1.4Lowest RI: 18.8%	19.8%±4.3Highest RI: 18.8%
	Glocester 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%	22.2%±3.4Highest RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Highest RI: 37.7%	35.7%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3%	4.3%±1.9Lowest RI: 8.3%
	Cranston and Glocester 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	$113,508±$7kHighest 29% above RI
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$378,300±$7kLowest 6% below RI	$396,500±$28kHighest about the RI average
	Glocester and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$59Lowest about the RI average	$1,417±$627Highest 6% above RI
	Glocester and Cranston 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	$5,248Highest 7% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±6Lowest RI: 48%	64.5%±24Highest RI: 48%
	Glocester 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%	4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.6%Lowest RI: 63.6%	91%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 4 yrs older than RI	1975Highest 13 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 5% below RI	34 minHighest 35% above RI
Work from home	13%±1.2Lowest RI: 13%	13.1%±4.7Highest RI: 13%
	Glocester 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	#12 of 38 in RI
School district	Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston	Foster-Glocester · Glocester
High school in town	Cranston High School West	Ponaganset High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.4Highest	12.8Lowest
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.