Compare towns
Cranston vs Glocester vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cranston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.
| Measure | Cranston | Glocester | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,250Highest |
10,221Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.6±0.9 about the U.S. average |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Glocester and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cranston and Plainfield 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 12% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,300±$7k 14% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| 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±$59 about the U.S. average |
$1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Glocester and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,103 64% above U.S. |
$5,248Highest 68% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | Ponaganset High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
12.8 |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.