Compare towns

Central Falls vs Lawrence vs Woonsocket

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).
Woonsocket has the most homeowners (37.2%).

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 FallsLawrenceWoonsocket
People
Population
22,701Lowest
88,736Highest
43,521
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
32.5±2.3Lowest
16% below U.S.
32.6±0.9
16% below U.S.
35.7±1.3Highest
8% below U.S.
Kids under 18
26.1%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
26.3%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Lowest
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%
14.7%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
10.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
16.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Lawrence 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.
$60,433±$3k
25% below U.S.
$61,059±$5kHighest
24% below U.S.
Woonsocket and Lawrence 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.
$415,200±$23kHighest
25% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,200±$75
15% below U.S.
$1,662±$50Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,744
20% above U.S.
$3,422Lowest
10% above U.S.
$3,960Highest
27% 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%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
25.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
28.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
1950
30 yrs older than U.S.
1952Highest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
5.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.8%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Lawrence and Woonsocket 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 #37 of 38 in RI
School district Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning Lawrence RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town Central Falls Sr High Lawrence High School Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.6
13.6Lowest
15.2Highest
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.