City Comparison
Cranston vs Grants Pass
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Cranston scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Cranston
Grants Pass
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Grants Pass is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
6% lower than in Cranston.
Housing costs are a major driver: Cranston's average rent is
21% higher than Grants Pass's.
| Metric | Cranston | Grants Pass | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $1,450 | +21% |
| Groceries | $420 | $450 | -7% |
| Utilities | $195 | $400 | -51% |
| Transport | $125 | $120 | +4% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $150 | +60% |
| Monthly Total | $2,730 | $2,570 | +6% |
| Cost Index | 108 | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Cranston offers 6% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Cranston delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Cranston is estimated at
$58,000 vs $58,000 in Grants Pass.
| Metric | Cranston | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $68,500 | $64,331 |
| Salary Needed | $58,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 63,426 idx | 57,438 idx |
| Household Income | $84,500 | $59,646 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Cranston runs warmer on average — a 51.7°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Cranston comes out ahead with 253 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Cranston sees 19.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Cranston | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 51.70°F | °F |
| Summer High | 80.60°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 22.30°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 46.30 in | in |
| Snowfall | 19.90 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 253 | |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 74.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Grants Pass has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Cranston.
Cranston scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Cranston leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Cranston | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 27.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 40.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Cranston is the larger city
— approximately 2.1x the population of Grants Pass.
From a growth perspective, Grants Pass is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Cranston has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Cranston | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 82,928 | 40,051 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.40% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 40.8 |
| Unemployment | 3.90% | 5.60% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Cranston
Advantages
Median home prices in Cranston remain more affordable than neighboring Boston while offering close proximity to Providence per Zillow data.
Violent crime rates in Cranston consistently trend below national medians according to FBI Uniform Crime Reporting statistics.
The city features vibrant, walkable historic commercial districts like Pawtuxet Village with unique local dining and shops.
Cranston provides excellent geographic connectivity with direct access to I-95 and I-295 for easy regional commuting.
Extensive park systems and recreational spaces like Meshanticut Park offer strong outdoor lifestyle amenities.
Drawbacks
New England regional energy costs push utility expenses above the national average per BLS consumer expenditure reports.
Public transit options are limited outside of core bus routes, maintaining high car dependency for daily commutes.
Housing inventory shortages have driven up rental and purchase prices significantly over recent years.
Winter weather brings heavy snowfall averaging nearly 20 inches annually, requiring significant snow removal upkeep.
Traffic congestion along major commercial corridors like Route 2 can experience heavy bottlenecks during peak hours.
Grants Pass
Advantages
Access to world-class outdoor recreation on the Rogue River, including rafting and fishing.
More sunny days and a warmer, drier climate compared to much of western Oregon.
Housing is comparatively more affordable than larger West Coast cities and some other Oregon metros.
A growing arts and food scene in a walkable, historic downtown.
Friendly community atmosphere appealing to families and retirees.
Drawbacks
Overall crime rate is significantly higher than the national average, particularly due to property crime.
Limited high-wage job opportunities compared to larger economic centers.
Air quality can be impacted by wildfire smoke during certain seasons.
Presence of a significant homeless population in the downtown core.
High car dependency due to minimal public transportation options.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Cranston
#278Rhode Island, USA
61.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,750
Avg Salary
$68,500
Cost Index
108
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
253/yr
Avg Temp
51.70°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
3.90%
Livability
78
Business
72
Grants Pass
#584Oregon, USA
45.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$64,331
Cost Index
112
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
27.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
5.60%
Livability
70
Business
60
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