What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

Cranston has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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	North Providence	Cranston
People
Population	34,293Lowest	83,250Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest RI: +4.3%	+3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	42.1±1.9Highest 4% above RI	39.6±0.9Lowest about the RI average
	North Providence and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±2.3Lowest RI: 18.8%	19.6%±1.4Highest RI: 18.8%
	Cranston and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±2.1Highest RI: 18.7%	16.8%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Highest RI: 37.7%	36.4%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.4Lowest RI: 8.3%	6.3%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3%
	Cranston and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,756±$6kLowest 5% below RI	$90,206±$4kHighest about the RI average
	Cranston and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$355,900±$12kLowest 12% below RI	$378,300±$7kHighest 6% below RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,405±$64Highest 5% above RI	$1,375±$59Lowest about the RI average
	North Providence and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,843Lowest about the RI average	$5,103Highest 4% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.7%±6.2Lowest RI: 48%	47.3%±6Highest RI: 48%
	Cranston and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Lowest RI: 11.2%	10.2%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.9%Lowest RI: 63.6%	67.6%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 8 yrs newer than RI	1958Lowest 4 yrs older than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 7% above RI	24 minLowest 5% below RI
Work from home	12.4%±2.5Lowest RI: 13%	13%±1.2Highest RI: 13%
	Cranston and North 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	#26 of 38 in RI	#27 of 38 in RI
School district	North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island	Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston
High school in town	North Providence High	Cranston High School West
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	15.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.