Compare towns

Pawtucket vs Willimantic 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 most people working from home (9.2%).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Woonsocket has the most kids (23.3% under 18).

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.

MeasurePawtucketWillimanticWoonsocket
People
Population
75,893Highest
18,096Lowest
43,521
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.1±0.8Highest
5% below U.S.
31.3±2.7Lowest
20% below U.S.
35.7±1.3
8% below U.S.
Pawtucket and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.4%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±2.5Lowest
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%±1.1
U.S.: 17.2%
11%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Woonsocket and Pawtucket 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%
24.2%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%
19.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,310±$4kHighest
15% below U.S.
$45,962±$7kLowest
43% 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
$190,900±$17kLowest
43% 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.
$1,063±$68Lowest
25% 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.
$4,678Highest
50% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Willimantic 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%
23.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
34.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1953Highest
27 yrs older than U.S.
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
3% below U.S.
23 minLowest
12% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
9.2%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Pawtucket and Woonsocket 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 — #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.