Compare towns

Pawtucket vs Warren vs Woonsocket

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%).
Warren has the most people working from home (14.4%).
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.

MeasurePawtucketWarrenWoonsocket
People
Population
75,893Highest
11,144Lowest
43,521
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%Highest
RI: +4.3%
+5.1%
RI: +4.3%
+5%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
Median age
37.1±0.8
9% below RI
49±2.9Highest
21% above RI
35.7±1.3Lowest
12% below RI
Kids under 18
22.4%±1.6
RI: 18.8%
14%±2.2Lowest
RI: 18.8%
23.3%±2Highest
RI: 18.8%
Woonsocket 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%
25%±3.5Highest
RI: 18.7%
14.7%±1.4
RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.2%
RI: 37.7%
36.4%Highest
RI: 37.7%
19.8%Lowest
RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±0.8Highest
RI: 8.3%
4.1%±1.5Lowest
RI: 8.3%
5.1%±0.9
RI: 8.3%
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±$4k
22% below RI
$90,729±$12kHighest
3% above RI
$61,059±$5kLowest
30% below RI
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$325,500±$8k
19% below RI
$395,700±$22kHighest
about the RI average
$311,000±$15kLowest
23% below RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,208±$39
10% below RI
$1,363±$96Highest
about the RI average
$1,161±$48Lowest
13% below RI
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,115
16% below RI
$5,474Highest
12% above RI
$3,960Lowest
19% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.9%±4.4Lowest
RI: 48%
54.6%±9.4Highest
RI: 48%
46.7%±5.4
RI: 48%
Warren and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.3%
RI: 11.2%
9.7%Lowest
RI: 11.2%
18.7%Highest
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.1%
RI: 63.6%
61.3%Highest
RI: 63.6%
37.2%Lowest
RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947Lowest
15 yrs older than RI
1950
12 yrs older than RI
1952Highest
10 yrs older than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the RI average
25 minLowest
about the RI average
29 minHighest
15% above RI
Work from home
9.2%±1.5
RI: 13%
14.4%±3.3Highest
RI: 13%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
RI: 13%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #35 of 38 in RI #31 of 38 in RI #37 of 38 in RI
School district Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket Highlander · Bristol Warren RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town William E. Tolman High Highlander Secondary Charter S Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.6Lowest
15.5Highest
15.2
On TownTapestry
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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.