Compare towns
Fall River vs North Smithfield 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
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
North Smithfield has the most homeowners (77.9%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
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 | Fall River | North Smithfield | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 94,082Highest |
12,708Lowest |
43,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11k 19% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,219Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fall River and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #262 of 282 in MA | #13 of 38 in RI | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | North Smithfield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | North Smitfield HS | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.1 |
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.