What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ware has the most homeowners (72.3%).

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	Ware
People
Population	191,767Highest	10,048Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S.	43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.1%±1Highest U.S.: 22%	19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Providence and Ware 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%	20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,119±$3kHighest 16% below U.S.	$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S.
	Providence and Ware 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.	$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average	$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,418Highest 42% above U.S.	$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ware 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%	11.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1960Highest 20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.	28 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	14.3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Providence and Ware 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	#267 of 282 in MA
School district	MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative	Ware
High school in town	Classical High School	Ware Junior/Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.2Highest	11.1Lowest
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.