Compare towns
Central Falls vs Sterling 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 the most renters (74.4% rent).
Sterling has the most homeowners (81.1%).
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 | Sterling | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,701 |
3,629Lowest |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9Highest about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
| Sterling and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Lowest 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% |
13%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Woonsocket and Sterling 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% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket 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. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
| Central Falls and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$75Highest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Central Falls and Woonsocket 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. |
$4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Woonsocket 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% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling and Woonsocket 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Sterling School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | None in town | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Lowest |
— | 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.