Compare towns
Central Falls vs Lawrence vs Valley Falls
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).
Lawrence has the most expensive homes ($415k median).
Valley Falls has the most homeowners (67.8%).
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 | Lawrence | Valley Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,701 |
88,736Highest |
12,657Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
32.6±0.9 16% below U.S. |
41.7±3.5Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
25%±4.4Lowest 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% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lawrence 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. |
$60,433±$3k 25% below U.S. |
$92,901±$17kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$375,200±$19k 13% above U.S. |
| Lawrence and Valley Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,362±$142 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,744 20% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,397Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.4%±17.7Lowest 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% |
17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Valley Falls and Lawrence 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Lawrence | — |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | Lawrence High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
13.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.