Compare towns
Cranston vs Putnam vs Cumberland
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 youngest population (median age 39.6).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Putnam | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,250Highest |
7,120Lowest |
36,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Putnam 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% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cumberland and Putnam 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% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cranston and Putnam 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 12% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,300±$7k 14% above U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$431,000±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$59 about the U.S. average |
$1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,379±$109Highest about the U.S. average |
| Cumberland 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. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,870 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cumberland and Cranston 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% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cumberland 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | — | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | — | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
— | 13.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.