Compare towns

Richmond vs Woonsocket vs Charlestown

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Richmond has the highest household income ($125k).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Charlestown has the most people working from home (18.9%).

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.

MeasureRichmondWoonsocketCharlestown
People
Population
8,142
43,521Highest
8,051Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%
RI: +4.3%
+5%Highest
RI: +4.3%
+2.2%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
Median age
42.7±4.1
5% above RI
35.7±1.3Lowest
12% below RI
53.3±2.1Highest
31% above RI
Kids under 18
22%±4.8
RI: 18.8%
23.3%±2Highest
RI: 18.8%
13%±3.3Lowest
RI: 18.8%
Woonsocket and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.7%±3.2
RI: 18.7%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
RI: 18.7%
27.1%±3.5Highest
RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.5%Highest
RI: 37.7%
19.8%Lowest
RI: 37.7%
40.4%
RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.1%±2.9Highest
RI: 8.3%
5.1%±0.9Lowest
RI: 8.3%
6.6%±2.7
RI: 8.3%
Richmond and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$124,653±$27kHighest
42% above RI
$61,059±$5kLowest
30% below RI
$109,404±$10k
25% above RI
Richmond and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$435,800±$22k
8% above RI
$311,000±$15kLowest
23% below RI
$525,500±$57kHighest
30% above RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,580±$777Highest
18% above RI
$1,161±$48Lowest
13% below RI
$1,374±$134
about the RI average
Richmond and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,362Highest
30% above RI
$3,960
19% below RI
$3,365Lowest
31% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±42.9Lowest
RI: 48%
46.7%±5.4
RI: 48%
60.7%±20.6Highest
RI: 48%
Charlestown and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%Lowest
RI: 11.2%
18.7%Highest
RI: 11.2%
4.2%
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.6%Highest
RI: 63.6%
37.2%Lowest
RI: 63.6%
92%
RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
23 yrs newer than RI
1952Lowest
10 yrs older than RI
1980
18 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
33% above RI
29 min
15% above RI
28 minLowest
9% above RI
Work from home
11%±3.8
RI: 13%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
RI: 13%
18.9%±3.9Highest
RI: 13%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #16 of 38 in RI #37 of 38 in RI #10 of 38 in RI
School district Chariho RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Chariho
High school in town Chariho High School Woonsocket High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Lowest
15.2Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.