Compare towns
Pawtucket vs Hampton vs Cranston vs Providence
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 the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Hampton has the most homeowners (90%).
Cranston has the most expensive homes ($378k median).
Providence has the most renters (58.6% rent).
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 | Hampton | Cranston | Providence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 75,893 |
1,647Lowest |
83,250 |
191,767Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±0.8 5% below U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.6±0.9 about the U.S. average |
32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Pawtucket and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,310±$4k 15% below U.S. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$90,206±$4k 12% above U.S. |
$68,119±$3kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$8k about the U.S. average |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$378,300±$7kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$362,200±$8k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$39Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,375±$59 about the U.S. average |
$1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average |
| Providence and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,115Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$5,103Highest 64% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±2.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Providence 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and 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 | #35 of 38 in RI | — | #27 of 38 in RI | #36 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Hampton School District | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative |
| High school in town | William E. Tolman High | None in town | Cranston High School West | Classical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Lowest |
— | 15.4 |
17.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.