Compare towns
Warwick vs Central Falls vs North Providence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warwick has the most homeowners (73.3%).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
North Providence has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
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 | Warwick | Central Falls | North Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,175Highest |
22,701Lowest |
34,293 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+16.6%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+6.3% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 44.3±1Highest 9% above RI |
32.5±2.3Lowest 20% below RI |
42.1±1.9 4% above RI |
| Warwick and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.8% |
26.1%±3.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
17.7%±2.3 RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±1.2Highest RI: 18.7% |
10.7%±2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
20.9%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
| Warwick and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7% RI: 37.7% |
10.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
36.9%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.7 RI: 8.3% |
4.6%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.2%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3% |
| North Providence and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,708±$6kHighest about the RI average |
$49,285±$8kLowest 44% below RI |
$83,756±$6k 5% below RI |
| Warwick and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $354,600±$5k 12% below RI |
$352,100±$30kLowest 13% below RI |
$355,900±$12kHighest 12% below RI |
| North Providence and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,363±$76 about the RI average |
$1,200±$75Lowest 11% below RI |
$1,405±$64Highest 5% above RI |
| North Providence and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,616 6% below RI |
$3,744Lowest 24% below RI |
$4,843Highest about the RI average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±6.1 RI: 48% |
56.7%±8.2Highest RI: 48% |
42.7%±6.2Lowest RI: 48% |
| Central Falls and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
24.6%Highest RI: 11.2% |
9.3% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
25.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
63.9% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 1 yr older than RI |
1944Lowest 18 yrs older than RI |
1970Highest 8 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below RI |
27 minHighest 7% above RI |
27 min 7% above RI |
| Work from home | 12.4%±1.2Highest RI: 13% |
5.2%±2Lowest RI: 13% |
12.4%±2.5Highest RI: 13% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #28 of 38 in RI | #38 of 38 in RI | #26 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Warwick | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island |
| High school in town | Pilgrim High School | Central Falls Sr High | North Providence High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Lowest |
14.6Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.