Cranston, Rhode Island

Cranston is a city that believes in investing in its residents. Community outreach programs, social welfare services, senior citizen services, childcare services, and many other public amenities are local features. There are publicly funded affordable housing programs, drug addiction rehabilitation programs, and mental health facilities. The Comprehensive Community Action Program is one of the city’s largest employers, allowing residents to earn a living while giving back to their community. In addition, the public parks, historical society, and other local programs that call Cranston home help to further the city’s greatness. If you are looking for a city that enriches the lives of its residents, look no further than Cranston.

It is generally agreed that the toughest issue facing Cranston is the low growth rate. Cranston is estimated to grow at approximately .01% per year. Newcomers from other parts of Rhode Island are uncommon, and transplants from other states are even less so. While it is not without growth, and it surpassed Warwick as Rhode Island’s second-largest city in 2017, the city does not expand at a very fast rate, and the lack of increasing tax base impacts the financial side of the city as well as the energy the community receives from newcomers. As such, be prepared to live in a small and somewhat insular community if you move to Warwick; if you are someone who prefers a constantly evolving urban environment, another city might be more to your liking.

Cranston supports a wide variety of lifestyles. It is more urban than other local towns, offering amenities such as an active nightlife and a solid restaurant scene. The historical society entertains those interested in the Revolutionary War, while the public library and parks department often put on events for families. Common occupations in Cranston include working in public administration, technology, retail, manufacturing, healthcare, social services, and finance. It is considered an excellent place to raise a family thanks to its high quality schools and very safe streets. It's also a solid place for young urban professionals, thanks to the diversity of the economy.

To see what locals get up to for fun in Cranston, check out the calendar of events.

We highly recommend visiting Cranston and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our partnership with Expedia as well.

Cranston’s schools are above the state average and rate a B on niche.com. Two of the solid high schools include Cranston High East and Cranston West, both known for extracurricular and athletic programs, and West rating a bit higher for academics. Elementary schools such as Orchard Farms exceed state averages in test scores and student performance. In total, the city boasts fifteen elementary schools, four middle schools, and four high schools.