Compare towns
Pawtucket vs Central Falls 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
Pawtucket has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Cranston has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Pawtucket | Central Falls | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 75,893 |
22,701Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% RI: +4.3% |
+16.6%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 37.1±0.8 9% below RI |
32.5±2.3Lowest 20% below RI |
39.6±0.9Highest about the RI average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±1.6 RI: 18.8% |
26.1%±3.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.6%±1.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Central Falls and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±1.1 RI: 18.7% |
10.7%±2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
16.8%±1.1Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2% RI: 37.7% |
10.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
36.4%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.8 RI: 8.3% |
4.6%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.3%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cranston and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,310±$4k 22% below RI |
$49,285±$8kLowest 44% below RI |
$90,206±$4kHighest about the RI average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$8kLowest 19% below RI |
$352,100±$30k 13% below RI |
$378,300±$7kHighest 6% below RI |
| Cranston and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$39 10% below RI |
$1,200±$75Lowest 11% below RI |
$1,375±$59Highest about the RI average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,115 16% below RI |
$3,744Lowest 24% below RI |
$5,103Highest 4% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±4.4Lowest RI: 48% |
56.7%±8.2Highest RI: 48% |
47.3%±6 RI: 48% |
| Central Falls and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.3% RI: 11.2% |
24.6%Highest RI: 11.2% |
10.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.1% RI: 63.6% |
25.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
67.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 15 yrs older than RI |
1944Lowest 18 yrs older than RI |
1958Highest 4 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the RI average |
27 minHighest 7% above RI |
24 minLowest 5% below RI |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.5 RI: 13% |
5.2%±2Lowest RI: 13% |
13%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 38 in RI | #38 of 38 in RI | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | William E. Tolman High | Central Falls Sr High | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Lowest |
14.6Lowest |
15.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.