Compare towns
North Providence vs Woonsocket vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k 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.
| Measure | North Providence | Woonsocket | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,293 |
43,521Highest |
22,220Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+5% RI: +4.3% |
-2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.9 4% above RI |
35.7±1.3Lowest 12% below RI |
43±2.2Highest 6% above RI |
| Bristol and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 RI: 18.8% |
23.3%±2Highest RI: 18.8% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest RI: 18.7% |
22.9%±2Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Bristol 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+ | 36.9% RI: 37.7% |
19.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
47.6%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.4 RI: 8.3% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest RI: 8.3% |
18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,756±$6k 5% below RI |
$61,059±$5kLowest 30% below RI |
$97,764±$8kHighest 11% above RI |
| Bristol and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,900±$12k 12% below RI |
$311,000±$15kLowest 23% below RI |
$485,000±$25kHighest 20% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,405±$64 5% above RI |
$1,161±$48Lowest 13% below RI |
$1,579±$118Highest 18% above RI |
| Bristol and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843 about the RI average |
$3,960Lowest 19% below RI |
$5,393Highest 10% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±6.2 RI: 48% |
46.7%±5.4Highest RI: 48% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest 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 | 9.3% RI: 11.2% |
18.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
6.5%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.9% RI: 63.6% |
37.2%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
66.1%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 8 yrs newer than RI |
1952Lowest 10 yrs older than RI |
1964 2 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% above RI |
29 minHighest 15% above RI |
25 minLowest about the RI average |
| Work from home | 12.4%±2.5Highest RI: 13% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest RI: 13% |
11.2%±2.7 RI: 13% |
| North Providence and Bristol 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | North Providence High | Woonsocket High School | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
15.2Highest |
12.5Lowest |
| 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.