Compare towns
Central Falls vs Epping vs North Providence
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 the most renters (74.4% rent).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
North Providence has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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.
| Measure | Central Falls | Epping | North Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,701 |
7,430Lowest |
34,293Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.1±1.9 8% above U.S. |
| Epping and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and North Providence 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% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Providence and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$83,756±$6k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$355,900±$12k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,405±$64 about the U.S. average |
| Epping and North Providence 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,843 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 38 in RI | #77 of 120 in NH | #26 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Epping School District | North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | Epping High School | North Providence High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
9.3Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.