What stands out worked out from the figures below

Valley Falls has the most homeowners (67.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Valley Falls	Central Falls
People
Population	12,657Lowest	22,701Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Lowest RI: +4.3%	+16.6%Highest RI: +4.3%
Median age	41.7±3.5Highest about the RI average	32.5±2.3Lowest 20% below RI
Kids under 18	25%±4.4Lowest RI: 18.8%	26.1%±3.7Highest RI: 18.8%
	Central Falls and Valley Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.6%±2.4Highest RI: 18.7%	10.7%±2Lowest RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Highest RI: 37.7%	10.8%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±0.8Lowest RI: 8.3%	4.6%±1.7Highest RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,901±$17kHighest 6% above RI	$49,285±$8kLowest 44% below RI
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,200±$19kHighest 7% below RI	$352,100±$30kLowest 13% below RI
	Valley Falls and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,362±$142Highest about the RI average	$1,200±$75Lowest 11% below RI
	Valley Falls and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,397Highest 10% below RI	$3,744Lowest 24% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.4%±17.7Lowest RI: 48%	56.7%±8.2Highest RI: 48%
	Central Falls and Valley Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest RI: 11.2%	24.6%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Highest RI: 63.6%	25.6%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 1 yr newer than RI	1944Lowest 18 yrs older than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 9% below RI	27 minHighest 7% above RI
Work from home	9.9%±4.4Highest RI: 13%	5.2%±2Lowest RI: 13%
	Valley Falls and Central Falls 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	—	#38 of 38 in RI
School district	—	Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning
High school in town	—	Central Falls Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.