Compare towns
Pawtucket vs Putnam 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 most kids (22.4% under 18).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
North Providence has the most people working from home (12.4%).
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 | Putnam | North Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 75,893Highest |
9,292Lowest |
34,293 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±0.8Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.1±1.9 8% above U.S. |
| Putnam and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pawtucket and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Providence and Putnam 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% |
20%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% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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±$4kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$83,756±$6kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| North Providence and Putnam 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 |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$355,900±$12kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$39 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,405±$64Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,115 32% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,843Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±6.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pawtucket and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Providence 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #26 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Putnam School District | North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island |
| High school in town | William E. Tolman High | Putnam High School | North Providence High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
9.5Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.