Compare towns
Cranston vs Needham vs Warwick
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 youngest population (median age 39.6).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Warwick has the most affordable homes ($355k 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 | Needham | Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,250Highest |
32,459Lowest |
83,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.3±1Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Warwick and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±1.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cranston and Warwick 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$88,708±$6kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,300±$7k 14% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$354,600±$5kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$59 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,363±$76Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,103 64% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,616Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Warwick 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #27 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA | #28 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Needham | Warwick |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | Needham High | Pilgrim High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
11.9 |
10.5Lowest |
| 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.