Cranston, RI vs Warwick, RI
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Warwick, RI and Cranston, RI spend within 11.7% of each other per resident — $46,415 versus $41,543 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Warwick, RI holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 56/100 (grade C) against 47/100 (grade D) for Cranston, RI — a 9-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Cranston, RI reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Warwick, RI carries $165 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Cranston, RI at $26,714 per resident and in Warwick, RI at $26,642.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Cranston, RI at 100% of total revenue, whereas Warwick, RI relies most on other revenue at 19%.
Summary
Warwick spends 10.5% more per capita than Cranston ($4,872/person difference). Warwick, RI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 56/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $85 | $103 |
| Intergovernmental | $12,769 | $2,416 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $1,544 |
| Other | $4,701 | $3,289 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $866 | $265 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $147 |
| Education | $26,714 | $26,642 |
| Public Welfare | $2,195 | $1,000 |
| Health | $507 | $12 |
| Hospitals | $236 | $585 |
| Parks & Recreation | $475 | $284 |
| Housing | $4,165 | $2,809 |
| Sewerage | $152 | $116 |
| Utilities | $0 | $1,704 |
| Other | $6,233 | $12,850 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.