Compare towns
Cranston vs Smithfield vs Providence
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).
Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,250 |
22,233Lowest |
191,767Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+7.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 39.6±0.9 about the RI average |
41.8±2.6Highest about the RI average |
32.8±0.5Lowest 19% below RI |
| Smithfield 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 RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
20.1%±1Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Providence 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 RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1Highest RI: 18.7% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% RI: 37.7% |
40%Highest RI: 37.7% |
34.6%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8Lowest RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
14.4%±0.8 RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,206±$4k about the RI average |
$102,077±$8kHighest 16% above RI |
$68,119±$3kLowest 22% below RI |
| Smithfield and Cranston 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 |
$362,200±$8kLowest 10% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$59 about the RI average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,408±$42Highest 5% above RI |
| Providence and Cranston 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 |
$4,418Lowest 10% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6Lowest RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
48%±2.8 RI: 48% |
| Smithfield and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% RI: 11.2% |
6.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
20.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6% RI: 63.6% |
81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
41.4%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 4 yrs older than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
1938Lowest 24 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 5% below RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
25 minHighest about the RI average |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2Lowest RI: 13% |
14%±3.1 RI: 13% |
14.3%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
| Providence and Smithfield 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 | #36 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Smithfield | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | Smithfield High School | Classical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4 |
11.8Lowest |
17.2Highest |
| 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.