Compare towns

Bristol vs Woonsocket vs Warren

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k median).
Woonsocket has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Warren has the most people working from home (14.4%).

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.

MeasureBristolWoonsocketWarren
People
Population
22,220
43,521Highest
11,144Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
+5%
RI: +4.3%
+5.1%Highest
RI: +4.3%
Median age
43±2.2
6% above RI
35.7±1.3Lowest
12% below RI
49±2.9Highest
21% above RI
Kids under 18
12.9%±1.9Lowest
RI: 18.8%
23.3%±2Highest
RI: 18.8%
14%±2.2
RI: 18.8%
Age 65+
22.9%±2
RI: 18.7%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
RI: 18.7%
25%±3.5Highest
RI: 18.7%
Warren and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.6%Highest
RI: 37.7%
19.8%Lowest
RI: 37.7%
36.4%
RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
18.6%±1.4Highest
RI: 8.3%
5.1%±0.9
RI: 8.3%
4.1%±1.5Lowest
RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,764±$8kHighest
11% above RI
$61,059±$5kLowest
30% below RI
$90,729±$12k
3% above RI
Bristol and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$485,000±$25kHighest
20% above RI
$311,000±$15kLowest
23% below RI
$395,700±$22k
about the RI average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,579±$118Highest
18% above RI
$1,161±$48Lowest
13% below RI
$1,363±$96
about the RI average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,393
10% above RI
$3,960Lowest
19% below RI
$5,474Highest
12% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.9%±8.1Lowest
RI: 48%
46.7%±5.4
RI: 48%
54.6%±9.4Highest
RI: 48%
Warren and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.5%Lowest
RI: 11.2%
18.7%Highest
RI: 11.2%
9.7%
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66.1%Highest
RI: 63.6%
37.2%Lowest
RI: 63.6%
61.3%
RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964Highest
2 yrs newer than RI
1952
10 yrs older than RI
1950Lowest
12 yrs older than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
about the RI average
29 minHighest
15% above RI
25 min
about the RI average
Work from home
11.2%±2.7
RI: 13%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
RI: 13%
14.4%±3.3Highest
RI: 13%
Warren and Bristol 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 #20 of 38 in RI #37 of 38 in RI #31 of 38 in RI
School district Bristol Warren RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Highlander · Bristol Warren
High school in town Mt. Hope High School Woonsocket High School Highlander Secondary Charter S
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5Lowest
15.2
15.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

RI 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.