What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cranston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

Warwick has the oldest population (median age 44.3).

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	Warwick
People
Population	83,250Highest	83,175Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3%	+0.2%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	39.6±0.9Lowest about the RI average	44.3±1Highest 9% above RI
Kids under 18	19.6%±1.4Highest RI: 18.8%	17.6%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.8%
	Cranston and Warwick 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%	21.6%±1.2Highest RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Highest RI: 37.7%	33.7%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3%	5.6%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3%
	Cranston and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,206±$4kHighest about the RI average	$88,708±$6kLowest about the RI average
	Cranston and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$378,300±$7kHighest 6% below RI	$354,600±$5kLowest 12% below RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$59Highest about the RI average	$1,363±$76Lowest about the RI average
	Cranston and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,103Highest 4% above RI	$4,616Lowest 6% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±6Lowest RI: 48%	53.1%±6.1Highest RI: 48%
	Warwick 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 RI: 11.2%	7.6%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.6%Lowest RI: 63.6%	73.3%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 4 yrs older than RI	1961Highest 1 yr older than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 5% below RI	25 minHighest 4% below RI
Work from home	13%±1.2Highest RI: 13%	12.4%±1.2Lowest RI: 13%
	Cranston and Warwick 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	#28 of 38 in RI
School district	Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston	Warwick
High school in town	Cranston High School West	Pilgrim High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.4Highest	10.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.