Compare towns

Central Falls vs Killingly vs Plainfield 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).
Killingly has the highest household income ($84k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
North Providence has the most people working from home (12.4%).

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.

MeasureCentral FallsKillinglyPlainfieldNorth Providence
People
Population
22,701
17,867
15,141Lowest
34,293Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+6.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
32.5±2.3Lowest
16% below U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
37±4.5
5% below U.S.
42.1±1.9Highest
8% above U.S.
North Providence and Killingly 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%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
10.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
North Providence and Killingly 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%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
North Providence and Plainfield 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.
$84,350±$8kHighest
4% above U.S.
$76,993±$8k
5% below U.S.
$83,756±$6k
4% above U.S.
Killingly 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
6% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$355,900±$12kHighest
7% above U.S.
North Providence and Central Falls 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.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,405±$64Highest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,744Lowest
20% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
$4,843Highest
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.7%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.7%±6.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Central Falls and Killingly 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%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
25.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
63.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
3% above U.S.
Work from home
5.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
North Providence and Killingly 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 #136 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT #26 of 38 in RI
School district Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Plainfield School District North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island
High school in town Central Falls Sr High Killingly High School Plainfield High School North Providence High
Students per teacherat that high school
14.6Highest
11.1
10.3Lowest
12.8
On TownTapestry
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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.