Compare towns
Cranston vs Pawtucket vs Warwick
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 most expensive homes ($378k median).
Pawtucket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Warwick has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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.
| Measure | Cranston | Pawtucket | Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,250Highest |
75,893Lowest |
83,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% RI: +4.3% |
+6.3%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+0.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 39.6±0.9 about the RI average |
37.1±0.8Lowest 9% below RI |
44.3±1Highest 9% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4 RI: 18.8% |
22.4%±1.6Highest RI: 18.8% |
17.6%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Pawtucket 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 RI: 18.7% |
14.5%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
21.6%±1.2Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Highest RI: 37.7% |
22.2%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
33.7% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
5.6%±0.8Lowest RI: 8.3% |
5.6%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Cranston and Pawtucket 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 |
$68,310±$4kLowest 22% below RI |
$88,708±$6k about the RI average |
| Cranston and Warwick 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 |
$325,500±$8kLowest 19% below RI |
$354,600±$5k 12% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$59Highest about the RI average |
$1,208±$39Lowest 10% below RI |
$1,363±$76 about the RI average |
| Cranston and Warwick 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 |
$4,115Lowest 16% below RI |
$4,616 6% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6 RI: 48% |
45.9%±4.4Lowest RI: 48% |
53.1%±6.1Highest RI: 48% |
| Warwick and Cranston 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% |
13.3%Highest RI: 11.2% |
7.6%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6% RI: 63.6% |
50.1%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
73.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 4 yrs older than RI |
1947Lowest 15 yrs older than RI |
1961Highest 1 yr older than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 5% below RI |
26 minHighest about the RI average |
25 min 4% below RI |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
9.2%±1.5Lowest RI: 13% |
12.4%±1.2 RI: 13% |
| Cranston and Warwick 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 | #35 of 38 in RI | #28 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Warwick |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | William E. Tolman High | Pilgrim High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
14.6 |
10.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.