What stands out worked out from the figures below

Central Falls has the most kids (26.1% under 18).

Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).

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	Thompson
People
Population	22,701Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Central Falls and Thompson 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.	$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$352,100±$30kHighest 6% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$75Highest 15% below U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Central Falls and Thompson 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.	$3,822Highest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Central Falls and Thompson 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%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#38 of 38 in RI	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning	Thompson School District
High school in town	Central Falls Sr High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	7.9Lowest
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.