Compare towns
Central Falls vs Willimantic vs Woonsocket 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%).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
North Providence has the most people working from home (12.4%).
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 | Willimantic | Woonsocket | North Providence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,701 |
18,096Lowest |
43,521Highest |
34,293 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3 16% below U.S. |
31.3±2.7Lowest 20% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
42.1±1.9Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±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% |
11%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest 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% |
6.2%±1.4 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±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$83,756±$6kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$190,900±$17kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% 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. |
$1,063±$68Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,405±$64Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$4,678 50% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$4,843Highest 55% 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%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±6.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
34.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 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. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 38 in RI | — | #37 of 38 in RI | #26 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | — | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | — | Woonsocket High School | North Providence High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
— | 15.2Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.