Compare towns
Putnam vs Cranston vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Cranston has the most people working from home (13%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Putnam | Cranston | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
83,250Highest |
7,120Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Cranston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cranston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$90,206±$4kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$378,300±$7kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,375±$59Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$5,103Highest 64% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cranston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cranston and Putnam 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #27 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Cranston High School West | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
15.4Highest |
— |
| 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.