What stands out worked out from the figures below

Adams has the most homeowners (62.1%).

Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Adams	Central Falls
People
Population	8,074Lowest	22,701Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.3±3.3Highest 22% above U.S.	32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S.
Kids under 18	15.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Central Falls and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,929±$6kHighest 27% below U.S.	$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S.
	Adams and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S.	$352,100±$30kHighest 6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$963±$74Lowest 32% below U.S.	$1,200±$75Highest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,638Lowest 17% above U.S.	$3,744Highest 20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	56.7%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Adams and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1944Highest 36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	8.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Adams and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#230 of 282 in MA	#38 of 38 in RI
School district	Hoosac Valley Regional	Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning
High school in town	None in town	Central Falls Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.