Compare towns

Pawtucket vs Westminster 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 the shortest commute (26 min average).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
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.

MeasurePawtucketWestminsterWoonsocket
People
Population
75,893Highest
8,374Lowest
43,521
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.1±0.8
5% below U.S.
48.3±4.6Highest
24% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
Kids under 18
22.4%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±4.4Lowest
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%
26%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.2Lowest
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±$4k
15% below U.S.
$106,331±$22kHighest
32% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$325,500±$8k
about the U.S. average
$422,000±$36kHighest
27% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,208±$39
15% below U.S.
$1,843±$268Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,115
32% above U.S.
$4,973Highest
59% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60%±27.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Westminster and Woonsocket 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%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 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%±1.5
U.S.: 15.1%
12.5%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster 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 #112 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI
School district Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket Ashburnham-Westminster RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town William E. Tolman High Oakmont Regional High School Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.6
13.6Lowest
15.2Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.