What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cranston has the most people working from home (13%).

West Warwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cranston	West Warwick
People
Population	83,250Highest	31,173Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3%	+6.2%Highest RI: +4.3%
Median age	39.6±0.9Lowest about the RI average	42.8±1.5Highest 5% above RI
Kids under 18	19.6%±1.4Highest RI: 18.8%	15.7%±2.3Lowest RI: 18.8%
Age 65+	16.8%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.7%	20%±2.1Highest RI: 18.7%
	West Warwick 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%Highest RI: 37.7%	26.4%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3%	5.7%±1.3Lowest RI: 8.3%
	Cranston and West 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	$77,608±$7kLowest 12% below RI
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$378,300±$7kHighest 6% below RI	$330,800±$12kLowest 18% below RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$59Highest about the RI average	$1,303±$74Lowest about the RI average
	Cranston and West 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	$4,962Lowest about the RI average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±6Highest RI: 48%	43.5%±7.8Lowest RI: 48%
	Cranston and West Warwick 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%	9.6%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.6%Highest RI: 63.6%	57%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 4 yrs older than RI	1968Highest 6 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 5% below RI	25 minHighest about the RI average
Work from home	13%±1.2Highest RI: 13%	7.2%±2Lowest RI: 13%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#27 of 38 in RI	#33 of 38 in RI
School district	Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston	West Warwick
High school in town	Cranston High School West	West Warwick High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.4Highest	13.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.