Compare towns

Pawtucket vs Valley Falls

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pawtucket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Valley Falls has the highest household income ($93k).

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.

MeasurePawtucketValley Falls
People
Population
75,893Highest
12,657Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%Highest
RI: +4.3%
+4.7%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
Median age
37.1±0.8Lowest
9% below RI
41.7±3.5Highest
about the RI average
Kids under 18
22.4%±1.6Lowest
RI: 18.8%
25%±4.4Highest
RI: 18.8%
Valley Falls and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.5%±1.1Lowest
RI: 18.7%
16.6%±2.4Highest
RI: 18.7%
Valley Falls and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.2%Lowest
RI: 37.7%
29.1%Highest
RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±0.8Highest
RI: 8.3%
1.3%±0.8Lowest
RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,310±$4kLowest
22% below RI
$92,901±$17kHighest
6% above RI
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$325,500±$8kLowest
19% below RI
$375,200±$19kHighest
7% below RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,208±$39Lowest
10% below RI
$1,362±$142Highest
about the RI average
Valley Falls and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,115Lowest
16% below RI
$4,397Highest
10% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.9%±4.4Lowest
RI: 48%
46.4%±17.7Highest
RI: 48%
Valley 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%Highest
RI: 11.2%
4.1%Lowest
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.1%Lowest
RI: 63.6%
67.8%Highest
RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947Lowest
15 yrs older than RI
1963Highest
1 yr newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the RI average
23 minLowest
9% below RI
Work from home
9.2%±1.5Lowest
RI: 13%
9.9%±4.4Highest
RI: 13%
Valley Falls 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 —
School district Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket —
High school in town William E. Tolman High —
Students per teacherat that high school
14.6
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet

RI 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.