What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cranston has the shortest commute (24 min average).

North Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

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	North Providence
People
Population	83,250Highest	34,293Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3%	+6.3%Highest RI: +4.3%
Median age	39.6±0.9Lowest about the RI average	42.1±1.9Highest 4% above RI
	North Providence and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±1.4Highest RI: 18.8%	17.7%±2.3Lowest RI: 18.8%
	Cranston and North Providence 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%	20.9%±2.1Highest RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Lowest RI: 37.7%	36.9%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3%	6.2%±1.4Lowest RI: 8.3%
	Cranston and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,206±$4kHighest about the RI average	$83,756±$6kLowest 5% below RI
	Cranston and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$378,300±$7kHighest 6% below RI	$355,900±$12kLowest 12% below RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$59Lowest about the RI average	$1,405±$64Highest 5% above RI
	North Providence and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,103Highest 4% above RI	$4,843Lowest about the RI average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±6Highest RI: 48%	42.7%±6.2Lowest RI: 48%
	Cranston and North Providence 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%	9.3%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.6%Highest RI: 63.6%	63.9%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 4 yrs older than RI	1970Highest 8 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 5% below RI	27 minHighest 7% above RI
Work from home	13%±1.2Highest RI: 13%	12.4%±2.5Lowest RI: 13%
	Cranston and North Providence 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	#26 of 38 in RI
School district	Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston	North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island
High school in town	Cranston High School West	North Providence High
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.