Compare towns
Central Falls vs Sharon vs West Warwick
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%).
Sharon has the most people working from home (31.5%).
West Warwick has the shortest commute (25 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 | Sharon | West Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,701 |
18,574Lowest |
31,173Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
42.5±1 9% above U.S. |
42.8±1.5Highest 10% above U.S. |
| West Warwick and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Central Falls 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% |
17.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Warwick and Sharon 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% |
76.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Warwick and Sharon 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. |
$191,835±$19kHighest 138% above U.S. |
$77,608±$7k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$737,100±$33kHighest 122% above U.S. |
$330,800±$12kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,310±$345Highest 63% above U.S. |
$1,303±$74 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,962 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Sharon 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 38 in RI | #23 of 282 in MA | #33 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Sharon | West Warwick |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | Sharon High | West Warwick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
11.9Lowest |
13.0 |
| 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.