Compare towns
Pawtucket vs Webster vs Woonsocket 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%).
Webster has the oldest population (median age 39.9).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Cranston has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Webster | Woonsocket | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 75,893 |
17,748Lowest |
43,521 |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±0.8 5% below U.S. |
39.9±2.9Highest about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
39.6±0.9 about the U.S. average |
| Webster and Cranston 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% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cranston and Webster 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. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$90,206±$4kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$8k about the U.S. average |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$378,300±$7kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Cranston and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$39 15% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,375±$59Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,115 32% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,103Highest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±4.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cranston and Woonsocket 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% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 38 in RI | #271 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Webster | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | William E. Tolman High | Bartlett High School | Woonsocket High School | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
11.6Lowest |
15.2 |
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.