Compare towns
Central Falls vs Gardner 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Pawtucket has the shortest commute (26 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 | Gardner | Pawtucket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,701 |
21,148Lowest |
75,893Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
37.1±0.8 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Pawtucket 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% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawtucket 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. |
$67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$68,310±$4kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Pawtucket and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$325,500±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Central Falls and Pawtucket 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. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,208±$39Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Pawtucket and Central Falls 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. |
$4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
$4,115 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Gardner 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% |
13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Highest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Pawtucket 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #35 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Gardner | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | Gardner High | William E. Tolman High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
13.5Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| 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.