Compare towns
Central Falls vs Putnam vs Woonsocket 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 the most renters (74.4% rent).
Putnam has the most homeowners (59.8%).
Pawtucket has the most people working from home (9.2%).
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 | Putnam | Woonsocket | Pawtucket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,701 |
9,292Lowest |
43,521 |
75,893Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
37.1±0.8 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±1.6 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% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Woonsocket 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% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawtucket 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. |
$70,561±$7kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$68,310±$4k 15% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$325,500±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Central Falls and Pawtucket 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. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,208±$39Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Pawtucket 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. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$4,115Highest 32% 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% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Woonsocket 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% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pawtucket and Putnam 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #35 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Putnam School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | Putnam High School | Woonsocket High School | William E. Tolman High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
9.5Lowest |
15.2Highest |
14.6 |
| 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.