Compare towns
Providence vs Putnam vs North Providence
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 the most renters (58.6% rent).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
North Providence has the highest household income ($84k).
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 | Putnam | North Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 191,767Highest |
9,292Lowest |
34,293 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.1±1.9 8% above U.S. |
| Putnam and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Providence and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Providence and Putnam 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,119±$3kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$83,756±$6kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| North Providence and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$8kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$355,900±$12k 7% above U.S. |
| Providence and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,405±$64 about the U.S. average |
| Providence and North Providence 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,843Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±2.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±6.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Providence and North 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Providence and North Providence 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #26 of 38 in RI |
| School district | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Putnam School District | North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island |
| High school in town | Classical High School | Putnam High School | North Providence High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.2Highest |
9.5Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.