Compare towns
Cranston vs Windham vs East Providence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cranston has the highest household income ($90k).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
East Providence has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
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.
| Measure | Cranston | Windham | East Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,250Highest |
23,961Lowest |
47,281 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±0.9 about the U.S. average |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.1±2.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,206±$4kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$75,912±$8k 6% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,300±$7kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$365,500±$10k 10% above U.S. |
| Cranston and East Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$59Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,288±$75 9% below U.S. |
| Cranston and East Providence 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. |
$4,633 49% above U.S. |
$4,545Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and East Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Highest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Highest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cranston and East Providence 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #29 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | East Providence |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | Windham High School | East Providence High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4 |
9.8Lowest |
15.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.