Rents are 4% below what Cranston's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,102 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Cranston, RI is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 36.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Cranston, RI has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Cranston, RI has shifted from $1,585 to $2,102, up 32.6% since 2022. Census figures show median household income at $90,206 today, compared with $77,145 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 33.9% to 36.4% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2022.
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Can you afford rent in Cranston on your salary?
At $2,102/mo, how Cranston rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Cranston rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Cranston. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Cranston
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Cranston is $2,102/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,315/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,725/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,410/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,075/mo.
At 28% of local median household income ($90,206/yr), Cranston ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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What percentage of Cranston residents rent vs. own?
How does Cranston rent compare to the national average?
At $2,102/mo, rent takes ~28% of Cranston's median household income ($90,206/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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