What stands out worked out from the figures below

Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Providence	Sutton
People
Population	191,767Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S.	44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.1%±1Highest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Providence and Sutton 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%	18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,119±$3kLowest 16% below U.S.	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,200±$8kLowest 9% above U.S.	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average	$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Providence and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S.	$6,763Highest 117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±2.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Providence and Sutton 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%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	14.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#36 of 38 in RI	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative	Sutton
High school in town	Classical High School	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.2Highest	12.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.