Compare towns
Central Falls vs Union 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 the most renters (74.4% rent).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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.
| Measure | Central Falls | Union | Woonsocket | West Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,701 |
944Lowest |
43,521Highest |
31,173 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest 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. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
42.8±1.5 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 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. |
$88,958±$14kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$77,608±$7k 4% below U.S. |
| Union and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$330,800±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Central Falls and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,303±$74Highest 8% below U.S. |
| West Warwick 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. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$4,962Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union 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% |
5.7%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% |
92.9%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. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and West Warwick 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 | — | #37 of 38 in RI | #33 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Union School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | West Warwick |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | None in town | Woonsocket High School | West Warwick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
— | 15.2Highest |
13.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.