Compare towns
Pawtucket vs Petersham 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 most affordable homes ($326k median).
Petersham has the most homeowners (94.2%).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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 | Petersham | Central Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 75,893Highest |
1,185Lowest |
22,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±0.8 5% below U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest 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% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%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% |
4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawtucket and Central Falls 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. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$39 15% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Petersham 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. |
$4,636Highest 49% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±4.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest 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% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Petersham 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 | — | #38 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Petersham | 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.