What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cranston has the shortest commute (24 min average).

Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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	Northbridge
People
Population	83,250Highest	16,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average	43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Northbridge and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Cranston and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Cranston and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,206±$4kLowest 12% above U.S.	$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Northbridge 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±$7kLowest 14% above U.S.	$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$59Highest about the U.S. average	$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,103Highest 64% above U.S.	$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Northbridge 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%	7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	70.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	13%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Northbridge 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	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston	Northbridge
High school in town	Cranston High School West	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.4Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.