Compare towns
Cranston vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Scituate
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).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Killingly | Plainfield | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 83,250Highest |
17,867 |
15,141 |
10,517Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±0.9 about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly 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% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Killingly 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest 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. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$112,315±$23kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Scituate 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 14% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$449,300±$26kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$59 about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,489±$251Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Scituate 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. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$5,265Highest 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Scituate and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Scituate 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #17 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Scituate |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.