What stands out worked out from the figures below

Central Falls has the most renters (74.4% rent).

Putnam has the most homeowners (59.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Central Falls	Putnam
People
Population	22,701Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S.	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Central Falls and Putnam 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.	$70,561±$7kHighest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$352,100±$30kHighest 6% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$75Highest 15% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Central Falls and Putnam 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.	$3,860Highest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Central Falls and Putnam 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%	11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Putnam and Central Falls 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	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning	Putnam School District
High school in town	Central Falls Sr High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.