What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cranston has the most people working from home (13%).

Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cranston	Putnam
People
Population	83,250Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Cranston and Putnam 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%	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam 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 U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,206±$4kHighest 12% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$378,300±$7kHighest 14% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$59Highest about the U.S. average	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,103Highest 64% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Cranston and Putnam 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%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	13%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Cranston and Putnam 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
School district	Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston	Putnam School District
High school in town	Cranston High School West	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.4Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.