Compare towns

Franklin 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

Franklin has the most homeowners (84.1%).
Pawtucket has the most people working from home (9.2%).
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.

MeasureFranklinPawtucketWoonsocket
People
Population
2,004Lowest
75,893Highest
43,521
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.3±4.3Highest
4% above U.S.
37.1±0.8
5% below U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
Franklin and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
27.2%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2
U.S.: 22%
Franklin and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.5%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Franklin and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Pawtucket and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$105,000±$10kHighest
30% above U.S.
$68,310±$4k
15% below U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$326,200±$20kHighest
about the U.S. average
$325,500±$8k
about the U.S. average
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
Franklin and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$767±$529Lowest
46% below U.S.
$1,208±$39Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
Pawtucket and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,934Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,115Highest
32% above U.S.
$3,960
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
19.5%±18.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.9%±4.4
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Woonsocket and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
3% above U.S.
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
6.8%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
9.2%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pawtucket and Franklin 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 — #35 of 38 in RI #37 of 38 in RI
School district Franklin School District Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town None 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.