Compare towns
Warwick vs Bristol vs Cranston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warwick has the most homeowners (73.3%).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k median).
Cranston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Warwick | Bristol | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,175 |
22,220Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2% RI: +4.3% |
-2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 44.3±1Highest 9% above RI |
43±2.2 6% above RI |
39.6±0.9Lowest about the RI average |
| Warwick and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±1.1 RI: 18.8% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest RI: 18.8% |
19.6%±1.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Cranston and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±1.2 RI: 18.7% |
22.9%±2Highest RI: 18.7% |
16.8%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Bristol and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
47.6%Highest RI: 37.7% |
36.4% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3% |
6.3%±0.8 RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,708±$6kLowest about the RI average |
$97,764±$8kHighest 11% above RI |
$90,206±$4k about the RI average |
| Bristol and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $354,600±$5kLowest 12% below RI |
$485,000±$25kHighest 20% above RI |
$378,300±$7k 6% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,363±$76Lowest about the RI average |
$1,579±$118Highest 18% above RI |
$1,375±$59 about the RI average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,616Lowest 6% below RI |
$5,393Highest 10% above RI |
$5,103 4% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±6.1Highest RI: 48% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest RI: 48% |
47.3%±6 RI: 48% |
| Warwick and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% RI: 11.2% |
6.5%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
10.2%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
66.1%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
67.6% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 1 yr older than RI |
1964Highest 2 yrs newer than RI |
1958Lowest 4 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below RI |
25 minHighest about the RI average |
24 minLowest 5% below RI |
| Work from home | 12.4%±1.2 RI: 13% |
11.2%±2.7Lowest RI: 13% |
13%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
| Cranston and Warwick 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 | #28 of 38 in RI | #20 of 38 in RI | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Warwick | Bristol Warren | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Pilgrim High School | Mt. Hope High School | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Lowest |
12.5 |
15.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.