Compare towns
Providence vs Athol vs Cranston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Towns like ProvidenceWarwick
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Cranston has the highest household income ($90k).
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 | Providence | Athol | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 191,767Highest |
12,011Lowest |
83,250 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.3±1.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
39.6±0.9 about the U.S. average |
| Athol and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athol and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,119±$3kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$90,206±$4kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$8k 9% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$378,300±$7kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,375±$59 about the U.S. average |
| Providence and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$5,103Highest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±2.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Highest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Providence 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 | #36 of 38 in RI | #256 of 282 in MA | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Athol-Royalston | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Classical High School | Athol High | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.2Highest |
11.6Lowest |
15.4 |
| 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.