Compare towns
Pawtucket vs Ware vs Warwick 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%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Warwick has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Cranston has the most expensive homes ($378k median).
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 | Ware | Warwick | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 75,893 |
6,369Lowest |
83,175 |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±0.8Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.8±6 about the U.S. average |
44.3±1Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.6±0.9 about the U.S. average |
| Warwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±1.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.7 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. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$88,708±$6k 10% above U.S. |
$90,206±$4kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Cranston and Warwick 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 |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$354,600±$5k 7% above U.S. |
$378,300±$7kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$39 15% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,363±$76 4% below U.S. |
$1,375±$59Highest about the U.S. average |
| Cranston and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,115 32% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,616 48% above U.S. |
$5,103Highest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Warwick 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% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #28 of 38 in RI | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | — | Warwick | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | William E. Tolman High | — | Pilgrim High School | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
— | 10.5Lowest |
15.4Highest |
| 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.