Compare towns

Hawley vs Plainfield 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

Hawley has the highest household income ($88k).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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.

MeasureHawleyPlainfieldWoonsocket
People
Population
277Lowest
616
43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.8±7.2Highest
46% above U.S.
50.6±9.5
30% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
Hawley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.7%±10Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19%±9.3
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
37.2%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.5%±7.1
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hawley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$87,500±$26kHighest
8% above U.S.
$63,500±$14k
21% below U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
Hawley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$309,600±$38k
7% below U.S.
$309,000±$47kLowest
7% below U.S.
$311,000±$15kHighest
7% below U.S.
Woonsocket and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,292±$558Highest
9% below U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
Plainfield and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,097
31% above U.S.
$4,458Highest
43% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Hawley and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94%
U.S.: 65.2%
98%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
38 minHighest
44% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±12.6
U.S.: 15.1%
26.2%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Hawley 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 — — #37 of 38 in RI
School district — — RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town — — Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
15.2
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.