Compare towns
Pawtucket vs Gardner vs Cranston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pawtucket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Gardner has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Cranston has the highest household income ($90k).
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 | Gardner | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 75,893 |
21,148Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±0.8Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.6±0.9 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Pawtucket and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardner and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 15% below U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$90,206±$4kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$8k about the U.S. average |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$378,300±$7kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$39 15% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,375±$59Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,115Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$5,103Highest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Highest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner 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 | #35 of 38 in RI | #273 of 282 in MA | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Gardner | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | William E. Tolman High | Gardner High | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
13.5Lowest |
15.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.