Compare towns
Pawtucket vs Windham 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 75,893 |
16,038Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±0.8Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
39.6±0.9 about the U.S. average |
| Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cranston and Windham 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$90,206±$4k 12% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$378,300±$7k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$39Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,375±$59 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,115Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,103 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 38 in RI | #13 of 120 in NH | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Windham School District | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | William E. Tolman High | Windham High School | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
12.8Lowest |
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.