Compare towns
Providence vs Woonsocket vs Cranston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
Towns like ProvidenceWarwick
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Woonsocket has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Woonsocket | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 191,767Highest |
43,521Lowest |
83,250 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+5% RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 32.8±0.5Lowest 19% below RI |
35.7±1.3 12% below RI |
39.6±0.9Highest about the RI average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1 RI: 18.8% |
23.3%±2Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.6%±1.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 11.6%±0.7Lowest RI: 18.7% |
14.7%±1.4 RI: 18.7% |
16.8%±1.1Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Cranston and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% RI: 37.7% |
19.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
36.4%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.3%±0.8 RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,119±$3k 22% below RI |
$61,059±$5kLowest 30% below RI |
$90,206±$4kHighest about the RI average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$8k 10% below RI |
$311,000±$15kLowest 23% below RI |
$378,300±$7kHighest 6% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$42Highest 5% above RI |
$1,161±$48Lowest 13% below RI |
$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 | $4,418 10% below RI |
$3,960Lowest 19% below RI |
$5,103Highest 4% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±2.8Highest RI: 48% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest RI: 48% |
47.3%±6 RI: 48% |
| Providence and Cranston 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% |
18.7% RI: 11.2% |
10.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.4% RI: 63.6% |
37.2%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
67.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 24 yrs older than RI |
1952 10 yrs older than RI |
1958Highest 4 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the RI average |
29 minHighest 15% above RI |
24 minLowest 5% below RI |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Classical High School | Woonsocket High School | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.2Highest |
15.2Lowest |
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.