Compare towns
Central Falls vs Plainfield vs Woonsocket vs Cumberland
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%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Cumberland has the highest household income ($118k).
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 | Plainfield | Woonsocket | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,701 |
616Lowest |
43,521Highest |
36,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
50.6±9.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Cumberland 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% |
19%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Cumberland 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$63,500±$14k 21% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$309,000±$47kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$431,000±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
$1,292±$558 9% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,379±$109Highest about the U.S. average |
| Cumberland and Plainfield 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. |
$4,458 43% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$4,870Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Cumberland 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% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 38 in RI | — | #37 of 38 in RI | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | — | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | — | Woonsocket High School | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
— | 15.2Highest |
13.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.