What stands out worked out from the figures below

Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).

Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).

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	Salem
People
Population	22,701Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S.	39.3±1.5Highest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S.	$85,153±$5kHighest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S.	$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S.	$6,114Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Central Falls and Salem 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%	12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	49.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Highest 36 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#38 of 38 in RI	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning	Salem
High school in town	Central Falls Sr High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	9.8Lowest
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.