What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cranston has the most affordable homes ($378k median).

Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).

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	Sutton
People
Population	83,250Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average	44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.6%±1.4 U.S.: 22%	19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sutton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Cranston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,206±$4kLowest 12% above U.S.	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$378,300±$7kLowest 14% above U.S.	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$59Highest about the U.S. average	$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Cranston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,103Lowest 64% above U.S.	$6,763Highest 117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sutton and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	13%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#27 of 38 in RI	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston	Sutton
High school in town	Cranston High School West	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.4Highest	12.6Lowest
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.