Compare towns

Providence vs Sutton vs East Providence

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
East Providence has the shortest commute (23 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.

MeasureProvidenceSuttonEast Providence
People
Population
191,767Highest
9,452Lowest
47,281
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
32.8±0.5Lowest
16% below U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
45.1±2.4Highest
16% above U.S.
East Providence and Sutton 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%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±1.8Lowest
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%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
20.8%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
East Providence and Sutton 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%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.6%Lowest
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%
4.4%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,119±$3kLowest
16% below U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$75,912±$8k
6% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,200±$8kLowest
9% above U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$365,500±$10k
10% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$42Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
$1,288±$75
9% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,418Lowest
42% above U.S.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
$4,545
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48%±2.8
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
East Providence 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%
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
41.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1958
22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
14.3%±1.2
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #36 of 38 in RI #105 of 282 in MA #29 of 38 in RI
School district MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative Sutton East Providence
High school in town Classical High School Sutton High School East Providence High
Students per teacherat that high school
17.2Highest
12.6Lowest
15.5
On TownTapestry
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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.