City Comparison
Cranston vs Pawtucket
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Cranston scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Cranston
Pawtucket
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Pawtucket is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
1% lower than in Cranston.
| Metric | Cranston | Pawtucket | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $1,788 | -2% |
| Groceries | $420 | $400 | +5% |
| Utilities | $195 | $180 | +8% |
| Transport | $125 | $90 | +39% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $250 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,730 | $2,708 | +1% |
| Cost Index | 108 | 95 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Cranston offers 3% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Pawtucket delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Cranston is estimated at
$58,000 vs $55,000 in Pawtucket.
| Metric | Cranston | Pawtucket |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $68,500 | $66,498 |
| Salary Needed | $58,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 63,426 idx | 69,998 idx |
| Household Income | $84,500 | $68,310 |
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 | Pawtucket |
|---|---|---|
| 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% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Pawtucket scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Pawtucket leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Cranston | Pawtucket |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 55.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 71.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 40.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Cranston is the larger city
— approximately 1.1x the population of Pawtucket.
From a growth perspective, Pawtucket is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Cranston | Pawtucket |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 82,928 | 75,893 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.40% | 1.10% |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 37.1 |
| Unemployment | 3.90% | 3.90% |
| 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.
Pawtucket
Advantages
Pawtucket is the third most walkable city in Rhode Island, with a Walk Score of 71, making it easy to run errands on foot.
The median household income in Pawtucket was $68,310 in 2024, which is competitive within the region.
Pawtucket's cost of living is generally more affordable than the national average, with a cost of living index of 95.
The city has a rich industrial history and is home to the Slater Mill Historic Site, a National Historic Landmark.
Pawtucket has a growing arts scene and is actively involved in community development programs.
Drawbacks
Pawtucket has a crime rate that is considerably higher than the national average, with a violent crime rate of 307.6 per 100,000 residents in 2024.
The unemployment rate in Pawtucket was 3.9% as of June 2026, which is higher than the national average of 4.1% in 2024.
Pawtucket's walkability score of 41 indicates a significant car dependency, despite its overall walkability ranking in the state.
While improving, the crime trajectory in Pawtucket is noted as 'improving' based on 5 years of data, suggesting past higher rates.
Pawtucket has a higher poverty rate (13.3%) than the national average (12.5%).
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
Pawtucket
#425Rhode Island, USA
56.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,788
Avg Salary
$66,498
Cost Index
95
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
71.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.10%
Unemployment
3.90%
Livability
74
Business
68
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