Compare towns
Cranston vs Plainfield vs Killingly vs North Providence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cranston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
North Providence has the oldest population (median age 42.1).
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 | Plainfield | Killingly | North Providence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 83,250Highest |
15,141Lowest |
17,867 |
34,293 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±0.9 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
42.1±1.9Highest 8% above U.S. |
| 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%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Providence and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 12% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$83,756±$6k 4% above U.S. |
| Cranston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,300±$7kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$355,900±$12k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$59 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,405±$64Highest about the U.S. average |
| 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 64% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,843 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±6.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cranston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #26 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School | North Providence High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.