Compare towns
Central Falls vs Ware vs Woonsocket vs Pawtucket
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%).
Pawtucket has the highest household income ($68k).
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 | Woonsocket | Pawtucket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,701 |
6,369Lowest |
43,521 |
75,893Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
39.8±6Highest about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
37.1±0.8 5% below U.S. |
| Ware and Pawtucket 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% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±1.6Lowest 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%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Woonsocket 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% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%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% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawtucket 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±$8k 39% below U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$68,310±$4kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Pawtucket and Woonsocket 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. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$325,500±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Central Falls and Pawtucket 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. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,208±$39Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Pawtucket and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,744 20% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$4,115Highest 32% 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% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4Lowest 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% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Highest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 38 in RI | #267 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #35 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | — | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | — | Woonsocket High School | William E. Tolman High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Lowest |
— | 15.2Highest |
14.6Lowest |
| 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.