Compare towns
Warwick vs Sterling vs North Providence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warwick has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
North Providence has the most renters (36.1% rent).
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 | Sterling | North Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,175Highest |
3,629Lowest |
34,293 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.1±1.9 8% above U.S. |
| Warwick and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±1.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warwick and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Providence and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,708±$6k 10% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$83,756±$6kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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±$5k 7% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$355,900±$12kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| North Providence and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,363±$76Lowest 4% below U.S. |
— | $1,405±$64Highest about the U.S. average |
| North Providence and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,616 48% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$4,843Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±6.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Warwick and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #28 of 38 in RI | #119 of 149 in CT | #26 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Warwick | Sterling School District | North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island |
| High school in town | Pilgrim High School | None in town | North Providence High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.