What stands out worked out from the figures below

Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).

Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Central Falls	Hanson
People
Population	22,701Highest	10,660Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S.	42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	21.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Central Falls and Hanson 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%	19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hanson 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.	$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S.	$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S.
	Hanson 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.	$6,402Highest 105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.7%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanson 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%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	7.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hanson and Central Falls 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	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	Central Falls Sr High	Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Lowest	14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.