Compare towns
Pawtucket 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%).
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 | Woonsocket | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 75,893 |
43,521Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+5% RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 37.1±0.8 9% below RI |
35.7±1.3Lowest 12% below RI |
39.6±0.9Highest about the RI average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±1.6 RI: 18.8% |
23.3%±2Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.6%±1.4Lowest 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% |
14.7%±1.4 RI: 18.7% |
16.8%±1.1Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Cranston and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2% 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% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$61,059±$5kLowest 30% below RI |
$90,206±$4kHighest about the RI average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$8k 19% below RI |
$311,000±$15kLowest 23% below RI |
$378,300±$7kHighest 6% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$39 10% below RI |
$1,161±$48Lowest 13% below RI |
$1,375±$59Highest about the RI average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,115 16% below RI |
$3,960Lowest 19% below RI |
$5,103Highest 4% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±4.4Lowest RI: 48% |
46.7%±5.4 RI: 48% |
47.3%±6Highest RI: 48% |
| 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% RI: 11.2% |
18.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
10.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.1% 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 |
1952 10 yrs older than RI |
1958Highest 4 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the RI average |
29 minHighest 15% above RI |
24 minLowest 5% below RI |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.5 RI: 13% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest RI: 13% |
13%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 38 in RI | #37 of 38 in RI | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | William E. Tolman High | Woonsocket High School | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Lowest |
15.2 |
15.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.