Compare towns
Ware vs Central Falls vs New Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
New Salem has the most people working from home (19.4%).
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 | Ware | Central Falls | New Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
22,701Highest |
1,054Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
55.6±2.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Salem and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Central Falls and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$79,688±$19kHighest about the U.S. average |
| New Salem and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$359,000±$40kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| New Salem and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,200±$75Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,194±$88 15% below U.S. |
| Central Falls and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$4,509Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
86.7%±25.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Salem and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| New Salem and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Ware | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | — |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Central Falls Sr High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— |
| 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.