What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

Cranston has the most kids (19.6% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Thompson	Cranston
People
Population	9,337Lowest	83,250Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.	39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S.	$90,206±$4kLowest 12% above U.S.
	Thompson and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.	$378,300±$7kHighest 14% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,375±$59Highest about the U.S. average
	Cranston and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.	$5,103Highest 64% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT	#27 of 38 in RI
School district	Thompson School District	Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston
High school in town	Tourtellotte Memorial High School	Cranston High School West
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9Lowest	15.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.