Compare towns
Warwick vs Exeter 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 oldest population (median age 44.3).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k 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 | Exeter | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,175 |
7,195Lowest |
83,250Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+0.5% RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 44.3±1Highest 9% above RI |
37.7±5.9Lowest 7% below RI |
39.6±0.9 about the RI average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.8% |
19.7%±4.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.6%±1.4 RI: 18.8% |
| Exeter and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±1.2Highest RI: 18.7% |
18.2%±3.8 RI: 18.7% |
16.8%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Warwick and Exeter 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% |
46.1%Highest RI: 37.7% |
36.4% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
11.1%±6.3Highest RI: 8.3% |
6.3%±0.8 RI: 8.3% |
| Exeter and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,708±$6kLowest about the RI average |
$111,250±$30kHighest 27% above RI |
$90,206±$4k about the RI average |
| Exeter 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 |
$509,200±$43kHighest 26% above RI |
$378,300±$7k 6% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,363±$76 about the RI average |
$1,317±$307Lowest about the RI average |
$1,375±$59Highest about the RI average |
| Cranston and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,616Lowest 6% below RI |
$5,881Highest 20% above RI |
$5,103 4% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±6.1 RI: 48% |
91%±26.7Highest RI: 48% |
47.3%±6Lowest RI: 48% |
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
12.8%Highest RI: 11.2% |
10.2% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% RI: 63.6% |
80.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
67.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 1 yr older than RI |
1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI |
1958Lowest 4 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below RI |
22 minLowest 12% below RI |
24 min 5% below RI |
| Work from home | 12.4%±1.2Lowest RI: 13% |
17.2%±6.1Highest RI: 13% |
13%±1.2 RI: 13% |
| Exeter 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 | #28 of 38 in RI | #14 of 38 in RI | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Warwick | Exeter-West Greenwich | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Pilgrim High School | None in town | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Lowest |
— | 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.