Compare towns
Cranston vs Smithfield vs Coventry
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 renters (32.4% rent).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($356k 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.
| Measure | Cranston | Smithfield | Coventry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,250Highest |
22,233Lowest |
35,907 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+1.9%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 39.6±0.9Lowest about the RI average |
41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
44±1.1Highest 8% above RI |
| Coventry and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
18.2%±1.8 RI: 18.8% |
| Cranston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1Highest RI: 18.7% |
19.2%±1.6 RI: 18.7% |
| Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% RI: 37.7% |
40%Highest RI: 37.7% |
31.2%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8 RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
5.5%±1.2Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,206±$4kLowest about the RI average |
$102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
$102,946±$8kHighest 17% above RI |
| Coventry and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,300±$7k 6% below RI |
$446,400±$12kHighest 10% above RI |
$356,200±$11kLowest 12% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$59Highest about the RI average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,206±$155 10% below RI |
| Cranston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,103 4% above RI |
$5,207Highest 6% above RI |
$5,099Lowest 4% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6Lowest RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
51.5%±11.1 RI: 48% |
| Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest RI: 11.2% |
6.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
7.4% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
81.6% RI: 63.6% |
82%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 4 yrs older than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
1973 11 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 5% below RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
26 minHighest about the RI average |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2 RI: 13% |
14%±3.1Highest RI: 13% |
11.3%±2.2Lowest RI: 13% |
| Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #24 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Smithfield | Coventry |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | Smithfield High School | Coventry High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
11.8Lowest |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.