Compare towns
Central Falls vs Petersham 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%).
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
West Warwick has the shortest commute (25 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 | Petersham | West Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,701 |
1,185Lowest |
31,173Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
42.8±1.5 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Warwick 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. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$77,608±$7k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$330,800±$12kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Petersham and Central 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. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,303±$74 8% below U.S. |
| Petersham and West Warwick 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. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
$4,962Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±7.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and West Warwick 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% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 38 in RI | — | #33 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Petersham | West Warwick |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | None in town | West Warwick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
— | 13.0Lowest |
| 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.