Compare towns

Devens vs Pawtucket 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

Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Pawtucket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).

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.

MeasureDevensPawtucketWoonsocket
People
Population
1,723Lowest
75,893Highest
43,521
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.6±4.3Highest
25% above U.S.
37.1±0.8
5% below U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
Kids under 18
5.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14%±5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.5%±1.1
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Woonsocket and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±4.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pawtucket and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$189,250±$63kHighest
134% above U.S.
$68,310±$4k
15% below U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$556,800±$96kHighest
67% above U.S.
$325,500±$8k
about the U.S. average
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,500±$539Highest
6% above U.S.
$1,208±$39
15% below U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
Devens and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,556Highest
78% above U.S.
$4,115
32% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±64.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Devens and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
25.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1950
30 yrs older than U.S.
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1952Highest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above U.S.
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
28.5%±11.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.2%±1.5
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #35 of 38 in RI #37 of 38 in RI
School district — Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town — William E. Tolman 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.