Compare towns

Central Falls vs Willimantic 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Woonsocket has the highest household income ($61k).

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 FallsWillimanticWoonsocket
People
Population
22,701
18,096Lowest
43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
32.5±2.3
16% below U.S.
31.3±2.7Lowest
20% below U.S.
35.7±1.3Highest
8% below U.S.
Woonsocket and Central Falls 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%
20.6%±2.5Lowest
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%
11%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
10.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$49,285±$8k
39% below U.S.
$45,962±$7kLowest
43% below U.S.
$61,059±$5kHighest
24% below U.S.
Woonsocket and Central Falls 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.
$190,900±$17kLowest
43% 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.
$1,063±$68Lowest
25% 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.
$4,678Highest
50% above U.S.
$3,960
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.7%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.1
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Central Falls and Willimantic 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%
23.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
25.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
34.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
1953Highest
27 yrs older than U.S.
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
23 minLowest
12% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
5.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Woonsocket and Willimantic 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
School district Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning — RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town Central Falls Sr High — Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.6Lowest
—
15.2Highest
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.