Compare towns
Cranston vs Glocester vs Warwick vs 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 the shortest commute (24 min average).
Glocester has the highest household income ($114k).
Warwick has the most affordable homes ($355k median).
Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Warwick | Providence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 83,250 |
10,221Lowest |
83,175 |
191,767Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% RI: +4.3% |
+2.3% RI: +4.3% |
+0.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+7.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 39.6±0.9 about the RI average |
50.8±4.3Highest 25% above RI |
44.3±1 9% above RI |
32.8±0.5Lowest 19% below RI |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4 RI: 18.8% |
19.8%±4.3 RI: 18.8% |
17.6%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.8% |
20.1%±1Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Providence and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.1 RI: 18.7% |
22.2%±3.4Highest RI: 18.7% |
21.6%±1.2 RI: 18.7% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Glocester and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Highest RI: 37.7% |
35.7% RI: 37.7% |
33.7%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
34.6% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8 RI: 8.3% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest RI: 8.3% |
5.6%±0.7 RI: 8.3% |
14.4%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,206±$4k about the RI average |
$113,508±$7kHighest 29% above RI |
$88,708±$6k about the RI average |
$68,119±$3kLowest 22% below RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,300±$7k 6% below RI |
$396,500±$28kHighest about the RI average |
$354,600±$5kLowest 12% below RI |
$362,200±$8k 10% below RI |
| 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 RI average |
$1,417±$627Highest 6% above RI |
$1,363±$76Lowest about the RI average |
$1,408±$42 5% above RI |
| Glocester and Providence 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 |
$5,248Highest 7% above RI |
$4,616 6% below RI |
$4,418Lowest 10% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6Lowest RI: 48% |
64.5%±24Highest RI: 48% |
53.1%±6.1 RI: 48% |
48%±2.8 RI: 48% |
| Glocester and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
7.6% RI: 11.2% |
20.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6% RI: 63.6% |
91%Highest RI: 63.6% |
73.3% RI: 63.6% |
41.4%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 4 yrs older than RI |
1975Highest 13 yrs newer than RI |
1961 1 yr older than RI |
1938Lowest 24 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 5% below RI |
34 minHighest 35% above RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
25 min about the RI average |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2 RI: 13% |
13.1%±4.7 RI: 13% |
12.4%±1.2Lowest RI: 13% |
14.3%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
| Providence and Glocester 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 | #28 of 38 in RI | #36 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Warwick | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | Ponaganset High School | Pilgrim High School | Classical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4 |
12.8 |
10.5Lowest |
17.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.