Compare towns
Central Falls vs Saugus 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Pawtucket has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Saugus | Woonsocket | Pawtucket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,701Lowest |
28,773 |
43,521 |
75,893Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% 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. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% 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% |
15.2%±2Lowest 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% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawtucket and Saugus 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. |
$101,539±$3kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$68,310±$4k 15% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$325,500±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,208±$39 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$4,115 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Saugus 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% |
6%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% |
71.5%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. |
1962Highest 18 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. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 38 in RI | #194 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #35 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Saugus | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | Saugus High | Woonsocket High School | William E. Tolman High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Lowest |
15.5Highest |
15.2 |
14.6Lowest |
| 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.