Compare towns
Warwick vs Providence 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).
Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Cranston has the most expensive homes ($378k 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.
| Measure | Warwick | Providence | Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,175Lowest |
191,767Highest |
83,250 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+7.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 44.3±1Highest 9% above RI |
32.8±0.5Lowest 19% below RI |
39.6±0.9 about the RI average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.8% |
20.1%±1Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.6%±1.4 RI: 18.8% |
| Providence 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% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest RI: 18.7% |
16.8%±1.1 RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
34.6% RI: 37.7% |
36.4%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
14.4%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
6.3%±0.8 RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,708±$6k about the RI average |
$68,119±$3kLowest 22% below RI |
$90,206±$4kHighest about the RI average |
| Cranston and Warwick 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 |
$362,200±$8k 10% below RI |
$378,300±$7kHighest 6% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,363±$76Lowest about the RI average |
$1,408±$42Highest 5% above RI |
$1,375±$59 about the RI average |
| Providence and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,616 6% below RI |
$4,418Lowest 10% below RI |
$5,103Highest 4% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±6.1Highest RI: 48% |
48%±2.8 RI: 48% |
47.3%±6Lowest RI: 48% |
| Warwick and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
20.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
10.2% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
41.4%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
67.6% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Highest 1 yr older than RI |
1938Lowest 24 yrs older than RI |
1958 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%±1.2Lowest RI: 13% |
14.3%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
13%±1.2 RI: 13% |
| Providence 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 | #36 of 38 in RI | #27 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Warwick | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston |
| High school in town | Pilgrim High School | Classical High School | Cranston High School West |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Lowest |
17.2Highest |
15.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.