Compare towns
Pawtucket vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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 | Thompson | North Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 75,893Highest |
9,337Lowest |
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. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.1±1.9 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and North Providence 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% |
21.9%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% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$83,756±$6k 4% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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 |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$355,900±$12kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$39 15% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,405±$64Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,115 32% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,843Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±4.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Pawtucket 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 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 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #26 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Thompson School District | North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island |
| High school in town | William E. Tolman High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | North Providence High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
7.9Lowest |
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.