Compare towns
Central Falls vs Exeter vs Woonsocket vs North Providence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
North Providence has the oldest population (median age 42.1).
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 | Exeter | Woonsocket | North Providence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,701 |
7,195Lowest |
43,521Highest |
34,293 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+5% RI: +4.3% |
+6.3% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 20% below RI |
37.7±5.9 7% below RI |
35.7±1.3 12% below RI |
42.1±1.9Highest 4% above RI |
| North Providence and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.7%±4.7 RI: 18.8% |
23.3%±2 RI: 18.8% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| 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 RI: 18.7% |
18.2%±3.8 RI: 18.7% |
14.7%±1.4 RI: 18.7% |
20.9%±2.1Highest RI: 18.7% |
| North Providence and Exeter 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 RI: 37.7% |
46.1%Highest RI: 37.7% |
19.8% RI: 37.7% |
36.9% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
11.1%±6.3Highest RI: 8.3% |
5.1%±0.9 RI: 8.3% |
6.2%±1.4 RI: 8.3% |
| Exeter and North Providence 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 44% below RI |
$111,250±$30kHighest 27% above RI |
$61,059±$5k 30% below RI |
$83,756±$6k 5% below RI |
| Exeter and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30k 13% below RI |
$509,200±$43kHighest 26% above RI |
$311,000±$15kLowest 23% below RI |
$355,900±$12k 12% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$75 11% below RI |
$1,317±$307 about the RI average |
$1,161±$48Lowest 13% below RI |
$1,405±$64Highest 5% above RI |
| North Providence and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,744Lowest 24% below RI |
$5,881Highest 20% above RI |
$3,960 19% below RI |
$4,843 about the RI average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2 RI: 48% |
91%±26.7Highest RI: 48% |
46.7%±5.4 RI: 48% |
42.7%±6.2Lowest RI: 48% |
| Exeter 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 RI: 11.2% |
12.8% RI: 11.2% |
18.7% RI: 11.2% |
9.3%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
80.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
37.2% RI: 63.6% |
63.9% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 18 yrs older than RI |
1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI |
1952 10 yrs older than RI |
1970 8 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% above RI |
22 minLowest 12% below RI |
29 minHighest 15% above RI |
27 min 7% above RI |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest RI: 13% |
17.2%±6.1Highest RI: 13% |
6.4%±1.7 RI: 13% |
12.4%±2.5 RI: 13% |
| Exeter and North Providence 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 | #38 of 38 in RI | #14 of 38 in RI | #37 of 38 in RI | #26 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Exeter-West Greenwich | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | None in town | Woonsocket High School | North Providence High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
— | 15.2Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.