Compare towns

Pawtucket vs Westfield 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%).
Westfield has the most homeowners (68.6%).
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.

MeasurePawtucketWestfieldWoonsocket
People
Population
75,893Highest
40,378Lowest
43,521
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.1±0.8
5% below U.S.
39.9±1.8Highest
about the U.S. average
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
Kids under 18
22.4%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
18.1%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
18.7%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
10%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,310±$4k
15% below U.S.
$87,753±$6kHighest
9% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$325,500±$8kHighest
about the U.S. average
$325,100±$11k
about the U.S. average
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
Pawtucket and Westfield 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.
$1,117±$60Lowest
21% 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
$4,115
32% above U.S.
$4,746Highest
52% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.5%±5.8
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Woonsocket and Westfield 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%
10.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
68.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1964Highest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1952
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%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±2.2
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pawtucket and Westfield 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 #197 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI
School district Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket Westfield RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town William E. Tolman High Westfield High Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.6
11.9Lowest
15.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.