Compare towns

Central Falls vs Thompson 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).
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.

MeasureCentral FallsThompsonWoonsocket
People
Population
22,701
9,337Lowest
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.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
35.7±1.3
8% below U.S.
Kids under 18
26.1%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
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%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
10.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
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.
$93,629±$18kHighest
16% above U.S.
$61,059±$5k
24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$352,100±$30kHighest
6% above U.S.
$291,900±$24kLowest
12% 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.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,161±$48
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.
$3,822
23% above U.S.
$3,960Highest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.7%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
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%
18.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
25.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
1963Highest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
5.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #38 of 38 in RI #130 of 149 in CT #37 of 38 in RI
School district Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning Thompson School District RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town Central Falls Sr High Tourtellotte Memorial High School Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.6
7.9Lowest
15.2Highest
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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.