Compare towns
Pawtucket vs Dover 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
Pawtucket has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k 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.
| Measure | Pawtucket | Dover | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 75,893Highest |
5,930Lowest |
43,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±0.8 5% below U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Woonsocket 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% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Pawtucket 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. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$8k about the U.S. average |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$39 15% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Dover and Pawtucket 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±4.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woonsocket 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 38 in RI | #1 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | William E. Tolman High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
9.8Lowest |
15.2Highest |
| 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.