Compare towns
Central Falls vs Fall River vs Lawrence vs Pawtucket
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).
Fall River has the oldest population (median age 39.3).
Lawrence has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Pawtucket has the most homeowners (50.1%).
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 | Fall River | Lawrence | Pawtucket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,701Lowest |
94,082Highest |
88,736 |
75,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
39.3±1.2Highest about the U.S. average |
32.6±0.9 16% below U.S. |
37.1±0.8 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 10.7%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fall River and Pawtucket 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% |
16.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawtucket and Lawrence 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. |
$56,673±$3k 30% below U.S. |
$60,433±$3k 25% below U.S. |
$68,310±$4kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$395,500±$11k 19% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$325,500±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Lawrence and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,208±$39 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,744 20% above U.S. |
$3,953 27% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,115Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence 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% |
19.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Highest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pawtucket and Fall River 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #35 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | B M C Durfee High | Lawrence High School | William E. Tolman High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
11.3Lowest |
13.6 |
14.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.