Compare towns

Central Falls vs Stoneham vs Woonsocket 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%).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
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.

MeasureCentral FallsStonehamWoonsocketWest Warwick
People
Population
22,701Lowest
23,355
43,521Highest
31,173
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
32.5±2.3Lowest
16% below U.S.
42.2±2.2
8% above U.S.
35.7±1.3
8% below U.S.
42.8±1.5Highest
10% above U.S.
West Warwick and Stoneham 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%
20.8%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±2.3Lowest
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%
20.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Stoneham and West Warwick 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%
55.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
26.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
West Warwick and Woonsocket 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.
$113,964±$10kHighest
41% above U.S.
$61,059±$5k
24% below U.S.
$77,608±$7k
4% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$352,100±$30k
6% above U.S.
$671,900±$26kHighest
102% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$330,800±$12k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,200±$75
15% below U.S.
$2,035±$142Highest
44% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,303±$74
8% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,744Lowest
20% above U.S.
$6,523Highest
109% above U.S.
$3,960
27% above U.S.
$4,962
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.7%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
43.5%±7.8
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%
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
25.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
57%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
1964
16 yrs older than U.S.
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
5.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #38 of 38 in RI #117 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI #33 of 38 in RI
School district Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning — RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket West Warwick
High school in town Central Falls Sr High — Woonsocket High School West Warwick High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.6
—
15.2Highest
13.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.