Compare towns
North Providence vs Plainfield vs Pawtucket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Providence has the most people working from home (12.4%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Pawtucket has the most renters (49.9% 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.
| Measure | North Providence | Plainfield | Pawtucket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,293 |
15,141Lowest |
75,893Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.9Highest 8% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
37.1±0.8 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pawtucket and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Providence and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Providence and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,756±$6kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$68,310±$4kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| North Providence and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,900±$12kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$325,500±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,405±$64Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,208±$39 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$4,115Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±6.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pawtucket and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Providence and Plainfield 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 | #26 of 38 in RI | #131 of 149 in CT | #35 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island | Plainfield School District | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket |
| High school in town | North Providence High | Plainfield High School | William E. Tolman High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
10.3Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| 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.