Cranston Makes 50 Best Cities List

There’s no question that Cranston is a good place to live. And according to 24/7 Wall St., it’s one of the top 50 cities in the country.

The “City on the Move” landed at No. 36 in the annual rankings, buoyed by it’s higher-than-average residential median income, decent home values and lots of leisure options.

The report does knock some points off for Cranston’s high unemployment rate, which stands at 9.5 percent, or “some of the highest unemployment rates in the country.”

The city also struggles in education, with many of its school-age residents attending private schools and just under 30 percent of residents holding at least a bachelor’s degree.

Still, with a median income of nearly $59,000, “Cranston residents are relatively well off,” the report stated. And with 166 places to get a drink, 39 libraries in Providence County and 3.5 miles of shoreline, Cranston is a city with lots to do and nationally-recognized historic districts.

The city also boasts a low crime rate, at 161.9 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.

The rankings were based on all sorts of data, including crime rates, employment growth, education, housing affordability and proximity to certain amenities, like parks and sports clubs.

A total of 550 cities with populations of 65,000 or more were judged for the rankings.

Want to view the complete list? Go here: http://247wallst.com/special-report/2014/09/17/americas-50-best-cities-to-live/