Compare towns
Cranston vs Woonsocket vs Cumberland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cranston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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.
| Measure | Cranston | Woonsocket | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,250Highest |
43,521 |
36,820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+5% RI: +4.3% |
+8.7%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 39.6±0.9 about the RI average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 12% below RI |
43.5±1.2Highest 7% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
23.3%±2 RI: 18.8% |
23.4%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Cumberland and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.1 RI: 18.7% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest RI: 18.7% |
18.9%±1.7Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Cumberland 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% RI: 37.7% |
19.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
44.8%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
5.1%±0.9 RI: 8.3% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Cranston and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,206±$4k about the RI average |
$61,059±$5kLowest 30% below RI |
$117,522±$8kHighest 34% above RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,300±$7k 6% below RI |
$311,000±$15kLowest 23% below RI |
$431,000±$15kHighest 7% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$59 about the RI average |
$1,161±$48Lowest 13% below RI |
$1,379±$109Highest about the RI average |
| Cumberland and Cranston 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 |
$3,960Lowest 19% below RI |
$4,870 about the RI average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6 RI: 48% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest RI: 48% |
47.9%±9.2Highest RI: 48% |
| Cumberland and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% RI: 11.2% |
18.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
3.9%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6% RI: 63.6% |
37.2%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
76.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 4 yrs older than RI |
1952Lowest 10 yrs older than RI |
1972Highest 10 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 5% below RI |
29 minHighest 15% above RI |
26 min 3% above RI |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2 RI: 13% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest RI: 13% |
14.8%±2.4Highest RI: 13% |
| Cumberland 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | Woonsocket High School | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
15.2 |
13.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.