Compare towns
East Providence vs Cranston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
East Providence has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Cranston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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.
| Measure | East Providence | Cranston |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 47,281Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.4Highest 11% above RI |
39.6±0.9Lowest about the RI average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±1.8Lowest RI: 18.8% |
19.6%±1.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±1.5Highest RI: 18.7% |
16.8%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
36.4%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.3%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cranston and East Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $75,912±$8kLowest 14% below RI |
$90,206±$4kHighest about the RI average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,500±$10kLowest 10% below RI |
$378,300±$7kHighest 6% below RI |
| Cranston and East Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,288±$75Lowest 4% below RI |
$1,375±$59Highest about the RI average |
| Cranston and East Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,545Lowest 7% below RI |
$5,103Highest 4% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±6.5Highest RI: 48% |
47.3%±6Lowest RI: 48% |
| East Providence and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
10.2%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.9%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
67.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 4 yrs older than RI |
1958 4 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 11% below RI |
24 minHighest 5% below RI |
| Work from home | 12.4%±2.6Lowest RI: 13% |
13%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
| 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 | #29 of 38 in RI | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | East Providence | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | East Providence High | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
15.4Lowest |
| 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.