Compare towns
Cranston vs Pawtucket vs Woonsocket vs Johnston
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).
Johnston has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Woonsocket | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 83,250Highest |
75,893 |
43,521 |
29,835Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% RI: +4.3% |
+6.3%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+5% RI: +4.3% |
+2.8%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 |
44.5±2.5Highest 10% 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% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest 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% |
22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Highest RI: 37.7% |
22.2% RI: 37.7% |
19.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
28.9% 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% |
6.1%±1.6 RI: 8.3% |
| Cranston and Johnston 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 |
$91,866±$6kHighest 5% above RI |
| Johnston 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±$7kHighest 6% below RI |
$325,500±$8k 19% below RI |
$311,000±$15kLowest 23% below RI |
$355,500±$13k 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 |
$1,275±$132 5% below RI |
| Cranston and Johnston 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 |
$4,115 16% below RI |
$3,960Lowest 19% below RI |
$4,614 6% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6Highest RI: 48% |
45.9%±4.4 RI: 48% |
46.7%±5.4 RI: 48% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
| Cranston and Woonsocket 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% |
7.9%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6% RI: 63.6% |
50.1% RI: 63.6% |
37.2%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
75.9%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 |
1968Highest 6 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 5% below RI |
26 min about the RI average |
29 minHighest 15% above RI |
24 minLowest 7% below RI |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
9.2%±1.5 RI: 13% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest RI: 13% |
9.9%±2.3 RI: 13% |
| Cranston and Johnston 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 | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Johnston |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | William E. Tolman High | Woonsocket High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
14.6 |
15.2 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.