Compare towns

Lincoln vs Woonsocket vs North Providence

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lincoln has the most expensive homes ($451k median).
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.

MeasureLincolnWoonsocketNorth Providence
People
Population
22,864Lowest
43,521Highest
34,293
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.7%Highest
RI: +4.3%
+5%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
+6.3%
RI: +4.3%
Median age
43.7±2.2Highest
8% above RI
35.7±1.3Lowest
12% below RI
42.1±1.9
4% above RI
Lincoln and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.5%±3
RI: 18.8%
23.3%±2Highest
RI: 18.8%
17.7%±2.3Lowest
RI: 18.8%
Woonsocket and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24%±2.7Highest
RI: 18.7%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
RI: 18.7%
20.9%±2.1
RI: 18.7%
Lincoln and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.9%Highest
RI: 37.7%
19.8%Lowest
RI: 37.7%
36.9%
RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.8
RI: 8.3%
5.1%±0.9Lowest
RI: 8.3%
6.2%±1.4Highest
RI: 8.3%
North Providence and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$104,821±$15kHighest
19% above RI
$61,059±$5kLowest
30% below RI
$83,756±$6k
5% below RI
Lincoln and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$450,600±$17kHighest
11% above RI
$311,000±$15kLowest
23% below RI
$355,900±$12k
12% below RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,468±$152Highest
9% above RI
$1,161±$48Lowest
13% below RI
$1,405±$64
5% above RI
Lincoln and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,751
3% below RI
$3,960Lowest
19% below RI
$4,843Highest
about the RI average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.4%±9.8Lowest
RI: 48%
46.7%±5.4Highest
RI: 48%
42.7%±6.2
RI: 48%
Woonsocket and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.4%Lowest
RI: 11.2%
18.7%Highest
RI: 11.2%
9.3%
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.1%Highest
RI: 63.6%
37.2%Lowest
RI: 63.6%
63.9%
RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970Highest
8 yrs newer than RI
1952Lowest
10 yrs older than RI
1970Highest
8 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
5% below RI
29 minHighest
15% above RI
27 min
7% above RI
Work from home
13.3%±3.4Highest
RI: 13%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
RI: 13%
12.4%±2.5
RI: 13%
Lincoln and North Providence 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 #21 of 38 in RI #37 of 38 in RI #26 of 38 in RI
School district Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island
High school in town Lincoln Senior High School Woonsocket High School North Providence High
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7
15.2Highest
12.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

RI 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.