Compare towns

Central Falls vs Blackstone vs Woonsocket

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).

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.

MeasureCentral FallsBlackstoneWoonsocket
People
Population
22,701
9,255Lowest
43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
32.5±2.3Lowest
16% below U.S.
43.2±1.7Highest
11% above U.S.
35.7±1.3
8% below U.S.
Kids under 18
26.1%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2
U.S.: 22%
Central Falls and Woonsocket 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%
18.5%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Blackstone and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
10.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket and Central Falls 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.
$94,191±$21kHighest
17% above U.S.
$61,059±$5k
24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$352,100±$30k
6% above U.S.
$404,400±$34kHighest
22% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
Blackstone and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,200±$75Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,189±$85
16% below U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
Central Falls and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,744Lowest
20% above U.S.
$5,703Highest
83% above U.S.
$3,960
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.7%±8.2
U.S.: 51.1%
65%±18.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Blackstone 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%
8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
25.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
1967Highest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
5.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #38 of 38 in RI #207 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI
School district Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning Blackstone-Millville RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town Central Falls Sr High Blackstone Millville RHS Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.6
13.6Lowest
15.2Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.