Compare towns
Central Falls vs Ludlow vs West Warwick
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%).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (14%).
West Warwick has the most affordable homes ($331k median).
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 | Ludlow | West Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,701 |
20,904Lowest |
31,173Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.8±1.5 10% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and West Warwick 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% |
16.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow and West Warwick 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% |
27%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Warwick and Ludlow 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. |
$84,838±$7kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$77,608±$7k 4% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
$330,800±$12kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Central Falls and Ludlow 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. |
$1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
$1,303±$74Highest 8% below U.S. |
| West Warwick and Ludlow 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. |
$4,918 58% above U.S. |
$4,962Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Ludlow 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% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 38 in RI | #154 of 282 in MA | #33 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Ludlow | West Warwick |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | Ludlow Senior High | West Warwick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
13.0 |
| 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.