Compare towns
Central Falls vs Lancaster vs Woonsocket vs Middletown
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%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Middletown has the shortest commute (20 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 | Lancaster | Woonsocket | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,701 |
8,606Lowest |
43,521Highest |
16,832 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
43.8±2Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Middletown and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middletown and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middletown and Woonsocket 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. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$101,948±$6k 26% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Middletown 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. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$563,300±$46kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Middletown and Lancaster 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. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,990±$170 41% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Middletown 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. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$6,153 97% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 38 in RI | #145 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #23 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Nashoba | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Middletown |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | None in town | Woonsocket High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
— | 15.2Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.