Compare towns
Central Falls vs Preston 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).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k 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 | Preston | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,701 |
4,821Lowest |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Woonsocket 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% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and Preston 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. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$361,900±$13kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Preston 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±$75 15% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Preston and Central Falls 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. |
$4,749Highest 52% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Preston 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Preston 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Preston School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | None in town | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Lowest |
— | 15.2Highest |
| 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.