Compare towns
Pawtucket vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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.
| Measure | Pawtucket | Thompson | Central Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 75,893Highest |
9,337Lowest |
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. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$8k about the U.S. average |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% 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. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% 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 | $4,115Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #38 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Thompson School District | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning |
| High school in town | William E. Tolman High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Central Falls Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
7.9Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| 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.