Compare towns

Pawtucket vs Whitman 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%).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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.

MeasurePawtucketWhitmanWoonsocket
People
Population
75,893Highest
15,295Lowest
43,521
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.1±0.8
5% below U.S.
40.4±1.8Highest
4% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
Kids under 18
22.4%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±3.5Lowest
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%
15.5%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Whitman 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.3%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%
5.1%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pawtucket and Whitman 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.
$108,933±$14kHighest
35% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$325,500±$8k
about the U.S. average
$472,700±$12kHighest
42% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,208±$39
15% below U.S.
$1,771±$151Highest
25% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,115
32% above U.S.
$5,824Highest
87% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±13.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Whitman 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%
7.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1957Highest
23 yrs older than U.S.
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
9.2%±1.5
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Whitman 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 #191 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI
School district Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket Whitman-Hanson RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town William E. Tolman High None in town 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.