Compare towns
Providence vs Warwick vs Cranston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Warwick has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Cranston has the most expensive homes ($378k median).
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 | Warwick | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 191,767Highest |
83,175Lowest |
83,250 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+0.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 32.8±0.5Lowest 19% below RI |
44.3±1Highest 9% above RI |
39.6±0.9 about the RI average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1Highest RI: 18.8% |
17.6%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.8% |
19.6%±1.4 RI: 18.8% |
| Providence and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.6%±0.7Lowest RI: 18.7% |
21.6%±1.2Highest RI: 18.7% |
16.8%±1.1 RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% RI: 37.7% |
33.7%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
36.4%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
5.6%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.3%±0.8 RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,119±$3kLowest 22% below RI |
$88,708±$6k about the RI average |
$90,206±$4kHighest about the RI average |
| Cranston and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$8k 10% below RI |
$354,600±$5kLowest 12% below RI |
$378,300±$7kHighest 6% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$42Highest 5% above RI |
$1,363±$76Lowest about the RI average |
$1,375±$59 about the RI average |
| Providence and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 10% below RI |
$4,616 6% below RI |
$5,103Highest 4% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±2.8 RI: 48% |
53.1%±6.1Highest RI: 48% |
47.3%±6Lowest RI: 48% |
| Warwick 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 RI: 11.2% |
7.6%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
10.2% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.4%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
73.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
67.6% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 24 yrs older than RI |
1961Highest 1 yr older than RI |
1958 4 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest about the RI average |
25 min 4% below RI |
24 minLowest 5% below RI |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
12.4%±1.2Lowest RI: 13% |
13%±1.2 RI: 13% |
| 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 | #28 of 38 in RI | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Warwick | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Classical High School | Pilgrim High School | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.2Highest |
10.5Lowest |
15.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.