About
Life in Cranston
Living in Cranston means joining a genuinely diverse, established community where Italian heritage remains strong but Dominican, Puerto Rican, Cambodian, and other cultures have real presence and visibility. The median household income of around $90,206 is solid for Rhode Island, and home values in the $378,000 range are reasonable compared to many Northeast markets, though you'll be paying roughly $1,375 monthly for rent. About 36% of residents hold college degrees, and the schools include both public and private options through the Cranston School District.
Cranston at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.2%
Foreign-Born
16.2%
Broadband Internet
91.9%
of households
Population Growth
+2.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.2% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Cranston: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Cranston, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (19.5%), and 13.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.6%
of residents
65 and Older
16.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.3%
of households
Married Couples
43.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.44
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for RI
Rent, home values, and income in Cranston
In Cranston, home values are 6% below the RI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
101.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,103
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
67.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1958
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $454,927 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for RI
Unemployment in Cranston
Unemployment in Cranston is close to the RI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Cranston Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.3 min avg
How Cranston residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Cranston, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 71% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD)
Small hub2.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 46 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 73% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Cranston runs 73% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
88.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
889.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Cranston Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 9 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
93.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Providence County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Providence County, which includes Cranston, the most common type is strong wind, with 9 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $19,800 |
| 2024 | 10 | Heavy Snow | $38,200 |
| 2023 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $321,700 |
| 2022 | 18 | Strong Wind | $1.1M |
| 2021 | 19 | Strong Wind | $168,700 |
| 2020 | 27 | Strong Wind | $95,300 |
| 2019 | 17 | Strong Wind | $32,100 |
| 2018 | 19 | Winter Storm | $1.0M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Providence County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Providence County, which includes Cranston, is typically good — 268 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
268
per year
Moderate Days
96
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Providence County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Cranston has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.5"
Annual Snowfall
36.6"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
109
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
127
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 22°F | 3.96" |
| Feb | 41°F | 24°F | 3.44" |
| Mar | 48°F | 30°F | 4.90" |
| Apr | 59°F | 40°F | 4.29" |
| May | 69°F | 49°F | 3.37" |
| Jun | 78°F | 59°F | 3.81" |
| Jul | 84°F | 65°F | 2.91" |
| Aug | 82°F | 64°F | 3.59" |
| Sep | 75°F | 57°F | 4.17" |
| Oct | 64°F | 45°F | 4.18" |
| Nov | 53°F | 36°F | 4.27" |
| Dec | 43°F | 28°F | 4.65" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Cranston
Uninsured
5.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Cranston's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Kent County Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Warwick
Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.8 mi away · Providence
Rhode Island Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 mi away · Providence
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Cranston
Cranston's student/teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 36.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
25
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
36.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Cranston (within 15 miles)
Community College of Rhode Island
3.7 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 11,171 students · in-state tuition $5,868 · 26% graduate · median earnings $47,965 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,226 students · in-state tuition $74,650 · 97% graduate · median earnings $99,974 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,229 students · in-state tuition $65,960 · 86% graduate · median earnings $90,260 (10 yrs after entry)
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
5.2 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 3,868 students · in-state tuition $44,581 · 58% graduate · median earnings $53,928 (10 yrs after entry)
Johnson & Wales University-Online
5.2 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,202 students · in-state tuition $13,365 · 28% graduate · median earnings $53,928 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,084 students · in-state tuition $65,136 · 91% graduate · median earnings $69,341 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Roger Williams National Memorial, 6 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Cranston
Cranston has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Roger Williams National Memorial (6 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Roger Williams National Memorial
National Memorial
6 mi awayBlackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
9 mi awayTouro Synagogue National Historic Site
National Historic Site
21 mi awayNew Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
National Historical Park
30 mi awayAdams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
42 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
43 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
44 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
46 mi awayPublic Libraries in Cranston
Cranston Public Library
140 Sockanosset Cross Road, Cranston
Arlington Branch
1064 Cranston Street, Cranston
Auburn Branch
396 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston
Knightsville Branch
1847 Cranston Street, Cranston
Oak Lawn Branch
230 Wilbur Avenue, Cranston
William Hall Library
1825 Broad Street, Cranston
Cities Near Cranston
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Cranston?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Cranston FAQ
Is Cranston, Rhode Island affordable?⌄
Cranston's median rent is $1,375/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $90,206/year. Median home value is $378,300.
Is Cranston, Rhode Island safe?⌄
Cranston's violent crime rate was 89 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 890 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Cranston, Rhode Island?⌄
Cranston has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Cranston, Rhode Island?⌄
The cost of living in Cranston is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,375/month and median household income is $90,206/year. The median home value is $378,300. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Cranston, Rhode Island?⌄
The average commute in Cranston is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from