What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cranston has the most kids (19.6% under 18).

Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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	Thompson
People
Population	83,250Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,206±$4kLowest 12% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S.
	Thompson 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±$7kHighest 14% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$59Highest about the U.S. average	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Cranston and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,103Highest 64% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson 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%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	13%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston	Thompson School District
High school in town	Cranston High School West	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.4Highest	7.9Lowest
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.