Compare towns
Central Falls vs Northbridge vs Pawtucket
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%).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Pawtucket has the most affordable homes ($326k 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 | Northbridge | Pawtucket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,701 |
16,458Lowest |
75,893Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
37.1±0.8 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Pawtucket 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% |
16.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northbridge and Pawtucket 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% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawtucket 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. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$68,310±$4k 15% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$325,500±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,208±$39Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Pawtucket and Northbridge 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. |
$4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,115 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 38 in RI | #226 of 282 in MA | #35 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Northbridge | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | Northbridge High | William E. Tolman High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
10.8Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| 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.