Compare towns
Central Falls vs Salem 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Salem | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,701Lowest |
44,795Highest |
43,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
39.3±1.5Highest about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
17.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem 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% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8% 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% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$85,153±$5kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest 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% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Highest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 38 in RI | #248 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Salem | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | Salem High | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
9.8Lowest |
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.