What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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	Windsor Locks
People
Population	83,250Highest	12,579Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average	41.4±2.6Highest 6% above U.S.
	Windsor Locks and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Cranston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Windsor Locks 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 U.S.: 35.7%	28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Cranston and Windsor Locks 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 12% above U.S.	$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average
	Cranston and Windsor Locks 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.	$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$59Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average
	Windsor Locks and Cranston 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.	$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windsor Locks and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	13%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Windsor Locks 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	#109 of 149 in CT
School district	Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston	Windsor Locks School District
High school in town	Cranston High School West	Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.4Highest	8.9Lowest
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.