Compare towns
Providence vs Windham vs Cranston
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).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Cranston has the most homeowners (67.6%).
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 | Windham | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 191,767Highest |
23,961Lowest |
83,250 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
33.7±1.9 13% below U.S. |
39.6±0.9Highest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cranston and Windham 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% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,119±$3k 16% below U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$90,206±$4kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$8k 9% above U.S. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$378,300±$7kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,375±$59 about the U.S. 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 42% above U.S. |
$4,633 49% above U.S. |
$5,103Highest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±2.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Highest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Classical High School | Windham High School | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
15.4 |
| 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.