Compare towns

Thompson vs Cranston vs Griswold

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Cranston has the most expensive homes ($378k median).
Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k median).

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.

MeasureThompsonCranstonGriswold
People
Population
9,337Lowest
83,250Highest
11,530
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
48.1±3.9
24% above U.S.
Thompson and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
Cranston and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.8%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,629±$18kHighest
16% above U.S.
$90,206±$4k
12% above U.S.
$78,719±$11kLowest
about the U.S. average
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±$24k
12% below U.S.
$378,300±$7kHighest
14% above U.S.
$275,900±$42kLowest
17% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,375±$59Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,177±$65
17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$5,103Highest
64% above U.S.
$4,628
48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
47.3%±6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.5%±15.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Griswold and Thompson 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%
7.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±1.2
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±3.6Lowest
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 #118 of 149 in CT
School district Thompson School District Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston Griswold School District
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School Cranston High School West Griswold High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
15.4Highest
11.5
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.