Compare towns
Scituate vs Dover vs Cranston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Cranston has the most renters (32.4% 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 | Scituate | Dover | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,517 |
5,930Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Scituate and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$90,206±$4kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$378,300±$7kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,489±$251 5% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,375±$59Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dover and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,265 69% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,103Lowest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.6%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Scituate and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #17 of 38 in RI | #1 of 282 in MA | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Scituate | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Scituate High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
9.8Lowest |
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.