Compare towns
Central Falls vs Ware vs North Providence
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%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
North Providence has the highest household income ($84k).
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 | Ware | North Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,701 |
6,369Lowest |
34,293Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
39.8±6 about the U.S. average |
42.1±1.9Highest 8% above U.S. |
| North Providence and Ware 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% |
23.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Providence and Ware 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% |
15.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%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% |
6.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Providence 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±$8k 39% below U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$83,756±$6kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$355,900±$12kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| North Providence and Central Falls 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. |
$1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,405±$64Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,744 20% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,843Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and North Providence 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #26 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | — | North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | — | North Providence High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| 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.