Compare towns

Pawtucket vs Pomfret 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 the most renters (49.9% rent).
Pomfret has the highest household income ($108k).

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.

MeasurePawtucketPomfretCranston
People
Population
75,893
4,317Lowest
83,250Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.1±0.8Lowest
5% below U.S.
45.9±3.7Highest
18% above U.S.
39.6±0.9
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
22.4%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Pomfret and Pawtucket 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%
17.8%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Pomfret 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%
50.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9Lowest
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±$4kLowest
15% below U.S.
$108,476±$8kHighest
34% above U.S.
$90,206±$4k
12% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$325,500±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$409,100±$28kHighest
23% above U.S.
$378,300±$7k
14% above U.S.
Pomfret and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,208±$39Lowest
15% below U.S.
$1,210±$300
14% below U.S.
$1,375±$59Highest
about the U.S. average
Cranston and Pomfret 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.
$5,903Highest
89% above U.S.
$5,103
64% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±15.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.3%±6
U.S.: 51.1%
Pomfret and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1958
22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
3% below U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
Work from home
9.2%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.2%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±1.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Pomfret 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 #39 of 149 in CT #27 of 38 in RI
School district Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket Pomfret School District Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston
High school in town William E. Tolman High None in town Cranston High School West
Students per teacherat that high school
14.6Lowest
—
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.