Compare towns
Pawtucket vs Woonsocket vs Cranston vs Central Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Cranston has the most people working from home (13%).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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.
| Measure | Pawtucket | Woonsocket | Cranston | Central Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 75,893 |
43,521 |
83,250Highest |
22,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% RI: +4.3% |
+5% RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+16.6%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 37.1±0.8 9% below RI |
35.7±1.3 12% below RI |
39.6±0.9Highest about the RI average |
32.5±2.3Lowest 20% below RI |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±1.6 RI: 18.8% |
23.3%±2 RI: 18.8% |
19.6%±1.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
26.1%±3.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Central Falls and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±1.1 RI: 18.7% |
14.7%±1.4 RI: 18.7% |
16.8%±1.1Highest RI: 18.7% |
10.7%±2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Cranston 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% RI: 37.7% |
19.8% RI: 37.7% |
36.4%Highest RI: 37.7% |
10.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.8 RI: 8.3% |
5.1%±0.9 RI: 8.3% |
6.3%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.6%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Cranston and Pawtucket 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 |
$61,059±$5k 30% below RI |
$90,206±$4kHighest about the RI average |
$49,285±$8kLowest 44% below RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$8k 19% below RI |
$311,000±$15kLowest 23% below RI |
$378,300±$7kHighest 6% below RI |
$352,100±$30k 13% below RI |
| Cranston and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$39 10% below RI |
$1,161±$48Lowest 13% below RI |
$1,375±$59Highest about the RI average |
$1,200±$75 11% below RI |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,115 16% below RI |
$3,960 19% below RI |
$5,103Highest 4% above RI |
$3,744Lowest 24% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±4.4Lowest RI: 48% |
46.7%±5.4 RI: 48% |
47.3%±6 RI: 48% |
56.7%±8.2Highest RI: 48% |
| Central Falls and Cranston 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% |
18.7% RI: 11.2% |
10.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
24.6%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.1% RI: 63.6% |
37.2% RI: 63.6% |
67.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
25.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 15 yrs older than RI |
1952 10 yrs older than RI |
1958Highest 4 yrs older than RI |
1944Lowest 18 yrs older than RI |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the RI average |
29 minHighest 15% above RI |
24 minLowest 5% below RI |
27 min 7% above RI |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.5 RI: 13% |
6.4%±1.7 RI: 13% |
13%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
5.2%±2Lowest RI: 13% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 38 in RI | #37 of 38 in RI | #27 of 38 in RI | #38 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning |
| High school in town | William E. Tolman High | Woonsocket High School | Cranston High School West | Central Falls Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Lowest |
15.2 |
15.4Highest |
14.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.