Compare towns

Pawtucket vs Ware vs Woonsocket

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% 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.

MeasurePawtucketWareWoonsocket
People
Population
75,893Highest
6,369Lowest
43,521
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.1±0.8
5% below U.S.
39.8±6Highest
about the U.S. average
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
Ware and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.4%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
14.5%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Ware and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Pawtucket and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,310±$4kHighest
15% below U.S.
$45,158±$11kLowest
44% below U.S.
$61,059±$5k
24% below U.S.
Pawtucket and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$325,500±$8kHighest
about the U.S. average
$253,400±$31kLowest
24% below U.S.
$311,000±$15k
7% below U.S.
Pawtucket and Woonsocket 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.
$1,039±$104Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
Pawtucket and Woonsocket 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.
$3,408Lowest
9% above U.S.
$3,960
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.5%±17.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
57.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947
33 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1952Highest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
9.2%±1.5
U.S.: 15.1%
16.6%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #35 of 38 in RI #267 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI
School district Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket — RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town William E. Tolman High — Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.6Lowest
—
15.2Highest
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.