Providence vs Cranston
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $362,200 in Providence and $378,300 in Cranston.
- Households earn more in Cranston ($90,206 vs $68,119 median).
Side by side
| Providence, RI | Cranston, RI | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 195,310 | 84,647 |
| Growth since 2020 | +2.3% | +2.1% |
| People per square mile | 10,611 | 2,986 |
| Median age | 32.8 | 39.6 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35% | 36% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $68,119 | $90,206 |
| Median home value | $362,200 | $378,300 |
| Home value to income | 5.3× | 4.2× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,408 | $1,375 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 101.8 | 101.8 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 103.9 | 103.9 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $76,300 | $76,300 |
| Homeowners | 41% | 68% |
| Top state income tax | 5.99% | 5.99% |
| Combined sales tax | 7% | 7% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 25.0 | 24.3 |
| Work from home | 14% | 13% |
| Take public transit | 4% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 8.2% | 6.1% |
| Poverty rate | 20.7% | 10.2% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 38° / 22° | 38° / 22° |
| July high / low | 84° / 65° | 84° / 65° |
| Precipitation per year | 48 in | 48 in |
| Snowfall per year | 37 in | 37 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 12 | 12 |
| Nights below freezing | 109 | 109 |
| Comfortable months | 6 | 6 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 93.7 | 93.7 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 70% | 70% |
| Home prices, past year | +4.7% | +4.7% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +51.9% | +51.9% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Providence: May to October. Cranston: May to October.
Full monthly tables: Providence weather by month and Cranston weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $76,300 in Providence and $76,300 in Cranston. Moving from Providence to Cranston, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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