Compare towns

Pawtucket vs Brooklyn vs Central Falls

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pawtucket has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
Central Falls has the most renters (74.4% 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.

MeasurePawtucketBrooklynCentral Falls
People
Population
75,893Highest
8,517Lowest
22,701
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+16.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.1±0.8
5% below U.S.
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
32.5±2.3Lowest
16% below U.S.
Kids under 18
22.4%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.1%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Central Falls and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.5%±1.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
10.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brooklyn and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
10.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pawtucket and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,310±$4k
15% below U.S.
$96,207±$15kHighest
19% above U.S.
$49,285±$8kLowest
39% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$325,500±$8k
about the U.S. average
$315,200±$28kLowest
5% below U.S.
$352,100±$30kHighest
6% above U.S.
Central Falls and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,208±$39Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,200±$75
15% below U.S.
Pawtucket and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,115
32% above U.S.
$4,538Highest
45% above U.S.
$3,744Lowest
20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.9%±4.4
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.7%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Central Falls and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
24.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
25.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947
33 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
9.2%±1.5
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brooklyn and Pawtucket 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 #113 of 149 in CT #38 of 38 in RI
School district Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket Brooklyn School District Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning
High school in town William E. Tolman High None in town Central Falls Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school
14.6
—
14.6
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.