Compare towns
Pawtucket vs Sterling 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%).
Sterling has the highest household income ($129k).
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.
| Measure | Pawtucket | Sterling | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 75,893 |
8,183Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±0.8Lowest 5% below U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.6±0.9 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest 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% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$90,206±$4k 12% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$378,300±$7k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$39Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,375±$59 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,115Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,103 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cranston and Sterling 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% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Wachusett | 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.