Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Cranston?

Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Cranston?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $41,000 in Cranston.

Which has lower taxes, Concord or Cranston?

Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Cranston under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Concord vs Cranston Cost of Living 2026

Concord

New Hampshire

$1,410/mo est.

Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Concord, NH versus $1,330 in Cranston, RI. Overall, Cranston, RI is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Concord, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,701 in Concord, NH and $87,716 in Cranston, RI — about 5% higher in Cranston, RI. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Concord, NH

Cranston, RI

Rent

Studio

$876

—

1 Bedroom

$1,134

$1,032

+9% in Concord, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,475

$1,438

+3% in Concord, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,769

$1,688

+5% in Concord, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$323,700

$348,800

+8% in Cranston, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$83,701

$87,716

+5% in Cranston, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$53,680

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

40.1 yr

+0.6 yr in Concord, NH

Homeownership

57.4%

67.3%

+9.9 pp in Cranston, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.1%

35.8%

+4.3 pp in Concord, NH

Avg Commute

23.2 min

23.8 min

+0.6 min in Cranston, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

180.7

93.1

+48% in Concord, NH

Property Crime

1,251.5

1,065.4

+15% in Concord, NH

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.4°F

51.6°F

+5.2°F in Cranston, RI

Annual Precipitation

40.6 in

47.2 in

+6.6 in in Cranston, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

29.2

+8% in Cranston, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$25.75

+19% in Cranston, RI

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

about equal

Average prices — Northeast vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / RI)

None

+7.0 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.99%

+6.0 pp in RI

Concord vs Cranston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Cranston?: Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Cranston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $41,000 in Cranston.
Which has lower taxes, Concord or Cranston?: Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Cranston under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).