What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).

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	Shirley
People
Population	22,701Highest	6,976Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S.	44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Shirley and Central Falls 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.	$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S.	$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S.
	Shirley 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.	$5,156Highest 65% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.7%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Shirley and Central Falls 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%	9.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.
Work from home	5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#38 of 38 in RI	#239 of 282 in MA
School district	Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Central Falls Sr High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6	—
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.