What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fall River has the most expensive homes ($396k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fall River	Woonsocket
People
Population	94,082Highest	43,521Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.2Highest about the U.S. average	35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S.
Kids under 18	19.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Fall River and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	19.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Woonsocket and Fall River 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.	$61,059±$5kHighest 24% below U.S.
	Woonsocket and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$395,500±$11kHighest 19% above U.S.	$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S.	$1,161±$48Highest 18% below U.S.
	Woonsocket and Fall River 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.	$3,960Highest 27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.7%±5.4Lowest 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%	18.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	35.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	37.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S.	1952Highest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	7.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Fall River and Woonsocket 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	#262 of 282 in MA	#37 of 38 in RI
School district	Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical	RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town	B M C Durfee High	Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	15.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.