Compare towns
Scituate vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Cranston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Lancaster | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,517 |
8,606Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Scituate and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cranston and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cranston and Scituate 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. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$90,206±$4kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$378,300±$7kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,489±$251 5% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,375±$59Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,265 69% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,103Lowest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.6%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Scituate 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #17 of 38 in RI | #145 of 282 in MA | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Scituate | Nashoba | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Scituate High School | None in town | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 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.