Compare towns
Pawtucket vs Hampton vs Woonsocket vs North Providence
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).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
North Providence has the most expensive homes ($356k 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 | Pawtucket | Hampton | Woonsocket | North Providence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 75,893Highest |
1,647Lowest |
43,521 |
34,293 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±0.8 5% below U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
42.1±1.9 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Pawtucket 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Providence 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. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$83,756±$6k 4% above U.S. |
| Hampton and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$8k about the U.S. average |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$355,900±$12kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$39 15% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,405±$64Highest about the U.S. average |
| North Providence and Hampton 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. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,843Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±4.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Woonsocket 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #35 of 38 in RI | — | #37 of 38 in RI | #26 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Hampton School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island |
| High school in town | William E. Tolman High | None in town | Woonsocket High School | North Providence High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
— | 15.2Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.