Compare towns

Cranston vs Pawtucket vs Woonsocket vs Coventry

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 people working from home (13%).
Pawtucket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Coventry has the most homeowners (82%).

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.

MeasureCranstonPawtucketWoonsocketCoventry
People
Population
83,250Highest
75,893
43,521
35,907Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
RI: +4.3%
+6.3%Highest
RI: +4.3%
+5%
RI: +4.3%
+1.9%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
Median age
39.6±0.9
about the RI average
37.1±0.8
9% below RI
35.7±1.3Lowest
12% below RI
44±1.1Highest
8% above RI
Kids under 18
19.6%±1.4
RI: 18.8%
22.4%±1.6
RI: 18.8%
23.3%±2Highest
RI: 18.8%
18.2%±1.8Lowest
RI: 18.8%
Woonsocket and Pawtucket 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%
14.7%±1.4
RI: 18.7%
19.2%±1.6Highest
RI: 18.7%
Coventry and Cranston 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
RI: 37.7%
22.2%
RI: 37.7%
19.8%Lowest
RI: 37.7%
31.2%
RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±0.8Highest
RI: 8.3%
5.6%±0.8
RI: 8.3%
5.1%±0.9Lowest
RI: 8.3%
5.5%±1.2
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±$4k
about the RI average
$68,310±$4k
22% below RI
$61,059±$5kLowest
30% below RI
$102,946±$8kHighest
17% above RI
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$378,300±$7kHighest
6% below RI
$325,500±$8k
19% below RI
$311,000±$15kLowest
23% below RI
$356,200±$11k
12% below RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,375±$59Highest
about the RI average
$1,208±$39
10% below RI
$1,161±$48Lowest
13% below RI
$1,206±$155
10% below RI
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,103Highest
4% above RI
$4,115
16% below RI
$3,960Lowest
19% below RI
$5,099
4% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.3%±6
RI: 48%
45.9%±4.4Lowest
RI: 48%
46.7%±5.4
RI: 48%
51.5%±11.1Highest
RI: 48%
Coventry 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%
RI: 11.2%
18.7%Highest
RI: 11.2%
7.4%Lowest
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.6%
RI: 63.6%
50.1%
RI: 63.6%
37.2%Lowest
RI: 63.6%
82%Highest
RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958
4 yrs older than RI
1947Lowest
15 yrs older than RI
1952
10 yrs older than RI
1973Highest
11 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
5% below RI
26 min
about the RI average
29 minHighest
15% above RI
26 min
about the RI average
Work from home
13%±1.2Highest
RI: 13%
9.2%±1.5
RI: 13%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
RI: 13%
11.3%±2.2
RI: 13%
Cranston and Coventry 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 #37 of 38 in RI #24 of 38 in RI
School district Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Coventry
High school in town Cranston High School West William E. Tolman High Woonsocket High School Coventry High School
Students per teacherat that high school
15.4Highest
14.6
15.2
12.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.