Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Providence, RI
VS
Warren, MI
🏆 Warren leads 12 of 23 categories
Providence
Rhode Island
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Warren
Michigan
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,633 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
138,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Providence, RI
Pros
49% less violent crime than Warren
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Warren
Warren, MI
Pros
Homes cost $124k less ($169,300 vs $293,000)
Rent averages $75/mo less ($1,139 vs $1,214)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Providence
Cons
Violent crime (541.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Providence
Violent Crime
49% lower
276.7 vs 541.8 per 100k
Warren
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Warren
Median Home Value
$124k less
$169,300 vs $293,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Providence, RI | Warren, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $293,000 | $169,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,214 | $1,139 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,365 | $61,633 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 74 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.5% ✓ Higher | 19.9% |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 86.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Providence | Warren Consolidated Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer | 32.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5" | 29.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.6" | 27.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,715 ✓ Larger | 138,588 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 21.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Providence's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Warren's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Warren is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Warren leads 12 of 23 categories. Providence wins 11 and Warren wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Providence to Warren or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,000 vs $169,300 median home), income ($61,365 vs $61,633), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Providence, RI and Warren, MI are about 596 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.