What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sheffield has the most homeowners (82.3%).

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	Sheffield
People
Population	22,701Highest	3,330Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S.	48.2±8Highest 24% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	13.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Central Falls and Sheffield 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.	$92,120±$31kHighest 14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S.	$409,400±$32kHighest 23% above U.S.
	Sheffield and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Sheffield 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.	$4,520Highest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Central Falls and Sheffield 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%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sheffield and Central Falls 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	#250 of 282 in MA
School district	Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning	Southern Berkshire
High school in town	Central Falls Sr High	Mt Everett Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	7.8Lowest
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.