What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Athol has the most homeowners (72.4%).

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.

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

Measure	Central Falls	Athol
People
Population	22,701Highest	12,011Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S.	41.3±1.9Highest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Central Falls and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	20.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Central Falls and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S.	$69,316±$5kHighest 14% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$352,100±$30kHighest 6% above U.S.	$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$75Highest 15% below U.S.	$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Central Falls and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,744Highest 20% above U.S.	$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.7%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Athol and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	16.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.	1953Highest 27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#38 of 38 in RI	#256 of 282 in MA
School district	Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	Central Falls Sr High	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	11.6Lowest
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.