Compare towns
Pawtucket vs Warren vs Woonsocket vs Cranston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pawtucket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Warren has the oldest population (median age 49).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Cranston has the most homeowners (67.6%).
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 | Warren | Woonsocket | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 75,893 |
11,144Lowest |
43,521 |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+5.1% RI: +4.3% |
+5% RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 37.1±0.8 9% below RI |
49±2.9Highest 21% above RI |
35.7±1.3Lowest 12% below RI |
39.6±0.9 about the RI average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±1.6 RI: 18.8% |
14%±2.2Lowest RI: 18.8% |
23.3%±2Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.6%±1.4 RI: 18.8% |
| Woonsocket 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 RI: 18.7% |
25%±3.5Highest RI: 18.7% |
14.7%±1.4 RI: 18.7% |
16.8%±1.1 RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2% RI: 37.7% |
36.4%Highest RI: 37.7% |
19.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
36.4%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.8 RI: 8.3% |
4.1%±1.5Lowest RI: 8.3% |
5.1%±0.9 RI: 8.3% |
6.3%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
| 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 22% below RI |
$90,729±$12kHighest 3% above RI |
$61,059±$5kLowest 30% below RI |
$90,206±$4k about the RI average |
| Warren 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 19% below RI |
$395,700±$22kHighest about the RI average |
$311,000±$15kLowest 23% below RI |
$378,300±$7k 6% below RI |
| Warren and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$39 10% below RI |
$1,363±$96 about the RI average |
$1,161±$48Lowest 13% below RI |
$1,375±$59Highest about the RI average |
| Cranston and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,115 16% below RI |
$5,474Highest 12% above RI |
$3,960Lowest 19% below RI |
$5,103 4% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±4.4Lowest RI: 48% |
54.6%±9.4Highest RI: 48% |
46.7%±5.4 RI: 48% |
47.3%±6 RI: 48% |
| Warren and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.3% RI: 11.2% |
9.7%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
18.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
10.2% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.1% RI: 63.6% |
61.3% RI: 63.6% |
37.2%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
67.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 15 yrs older than RI |
1950 12 yrs older than RI |
1952 10 yrs older than RI |
1958Highest 4 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the RI average |
25 min about the RI average |
29 minHighest 15% above RI |
24 minLowest 5% below RI |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.5 RI: 13% |
14.4%±3.3Highest RI: 13% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest RI: 13% |
13%±1.2 RI: 13% |
| Warren 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 | #31 of 38 in RI | #37 of 38 in RI | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Highlander · Bristol Warren | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | William E. Tolman High | Highlander Secondary Charter S | Woonsocket High School | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Lowest |
15.5Highest |
15.2 |
15.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.