02904 and 02908 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
02904
02908
Opportunity
47 · Bottom 33%
vs47 · Bottom 34%
Growth
50 · Top 50%
vs50 · Top 50%
Climate
65 · Bottom 34%
vs65 · Bottom 34%
Physical resilience
72 · Top 33%
vs72 · Top 33%
Housing affordability
65 · Bottom 30%
vs72 · Bottom 38%
Schools
49 · Bottom 46%
vs49 · Bottom 46%
Access
99 · Top 15%
vs99 · Top 15%
Economic stability
50 · Bottom 33%
vs50 · Bottom 34%
Measured values
| Metric | 02904 | 02908 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,531 | 39,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $67,003 | $73,081 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,842 | $36,266 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 6,285/sq mi | 11,611/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $339,900 | $324,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,289 | $1,409 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 51.7% | 46.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.6% | -2.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.8% | 26.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.3% | 16.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 363 | 363 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 1.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 33.5% | 33.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 22°F | 22°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 47.5" | 47.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 9 mi | 8 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.4 min | 27.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.9 | 33.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 9 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 12.75 | 13.77 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 10.3% | 11.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 24.2% | 20.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 66.1% | 86.0% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Full profiles: 02904 — Providence, RI · 02908 — Providence, RI · How this is calculated: methodology