Compare towns
Cranston vs Putnam vs Killingly vs 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 highest household income ($90k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
Providence has the most renters (58.6% rent).
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 | Killingly | Providence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 83,250 |
7,120Lowest |
17,867 |
191,767Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±0.9 about the U.S. average |
41.2±5.1Highest 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Putnam 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% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Providence and Killingly 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% |
17%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,206±$4kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$68,119±$3k 16% below 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. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$362,200±$8k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$59 about the U.S. average |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% 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% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±2.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Providence and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Providence 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #36 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | — | Killingly High School | Classical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4 |
— | 11.1Lowest |
17.2Highest |
| 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.