Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Cranston vs East Providence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Cranston has the highest household income ($90k).
East Providence has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
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 | Woonsocket | Cranston | East Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,521Lowest |
83,250Highest |
47,281 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2% RI: +4.3% |
+0.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3Lowest 12% below RI |
39.6±0.9 about the RI average |
45.1±2.4Highest 11% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±2Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.6%±1.4 RI: 18.8% |
15.6%±1.8Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±1.4Lowest RI: 18.7% |
16.8%±1.1 RI: 18.7% |
20.8%±1.5Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
36.4%Highest RI: 37.7% |
31.6% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9 RI: 8.3% |
6.3%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Cranston and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,059±$5kLowest 30% below RI |
$90,206±$4kHighest about the RI average |
$75,912±$8k 14% below RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,000±$15kLowest 23% below RI |
$378,300±$7kHighest 6% below RI |
$365,500±$10k 10% below RI |
| Cranston and East Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,161±$48Lowest 13% below RI |
$1,375±$59Highest about the RI average |
$1,288±$75 4% below RI |
| Cranston and East Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,960Lowest 19% below RI |
$5,103Highest 4% above RI |
$4,545 7% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4Lowest RI: 48% |
47.3%±6 RI: 48% |
48.5%±6.5Highest RI: 48% |
| East Providence and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
10.2% RI: 11.2% |
10.1%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
67.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
59.9% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 10 yrs older than RI |
1958Highest 4 yrs older than RI |
1958Highest 4 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 15% above RI |
24 min 5% below RI |
23 minLowest 11% below RI |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7Lowest RI: 13% |
13%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
12.4%±2.6 RI: 13% |
| Cranston and East Providence 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #27 of 38 in RI | #29 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | East Providence |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Cranston High School West | East Providence High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Lowest |
15.4 |
15.5Highest |
| 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.