What stands out worked out from the figures below

Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).

West Warwick has the most homeowners (57%).

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	West Warwick
People
Population	22,701Lowest	31,173Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.6%Highest RI: +4.3%	+6.2%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	32.5±2.3Lowest 20% below RI	42.8±1.5Highest 5% above RI
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.7Highest RI: 18.8%	15.7%±2.3Lowest RI: 18.8%
Age 65+	10.7%±2Lowest RI: 18.7%	20%±2.1Highest RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	10.8%Lowest RI: 37.7%	26.4%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3%	5.7%±1.3Highest RI: 8.3%
	West Warwick 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 44% below RI	$77,608±$7kHighest 12% below RI
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$352,100±$30kHighest 13% below RI	$330,800±$12kLowest 18% below RI
	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±$75Lowest 11% below RI	$1,303±$74Highest about the RI average
	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 24% below RI	$4,962Highest about the RI average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.7%±8.2Highest RI: 48%	43.5%±7.8Lowest RI: 48%
	Central Falls and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	24.6%Highest RI: 11.2%	9.6%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	25.6%Lowest RI: 63.6%	57%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 18 yrs older than RI	1968Highest 6 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 7% above RI	25 minLowest about the RI average
Work from home	5.2%±2Lowest RI: 13%	7.2%±2Highest RI: 13%
	West Warwick and Central Falls 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	#33 of 38 in RI
School district	Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning	West Warwick
High school in town	Central Falls Sr High	West Warwick High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	13.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

RI 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.