Compare towns
Cranston vs Smithfield vs Scituate
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 people working from home (14%).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,250Highest |
22,233 |
10,517Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 39.6±0.9Lowest about the RI average |
41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
49.9±4Highest 23% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Cranston and Smithfield 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%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
25.2%±4.3Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Scituate and Smithfield 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% |
34.7%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8 RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,206±$4kLowest about the RI average |
$102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
$112,315±$23kHighest 28% above RI |
| Scituate 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±$7kLowest 6% below RI |
$446,400±$12k 10% above RI |
$449,300±$26kHighest 11% above RI |
| Scituate and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$59 about the RI average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,489±$251Highest 11% above RI |
| Scituate and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,103Lowest 4% above RI |
$5,207 6% above RI |
$5,265Highest 7% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6Lowest RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7 RI: 48% |
59.6%±25.9Highest RI: 48% |
| Scituate and Smithfield 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% RI: 11.2% |
5%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
81.6% RI: 63.6% |
87.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 4 yrs older than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
1966 4 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 5% below RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
31 minHighest 20% above RI |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2Lowest RI: 13% |
14%±3.1Highest RI: 13% |
13.3%±5.1 RI: 13% |
| Smithfield and Scituate 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 | #17 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Smithfield | Scituate |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | Smithfield High School | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
11.8 |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.