Compare towns
West Warwick vs Dedham vs Pawtucket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Warwick has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Pawtucket has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | West Warwick | Dedham | Pawtucket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,173 |
25,237Lowest |
75,893Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±1.5 10% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
37.1±0.8Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Dedham and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Warwick and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,608±$7k 4% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$68,310±$4kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,800±$12k about the U.S. average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$325,500±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,303±$74 8% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,208±$39Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,962 59% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,115Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 38 in RI | #119 of 282 in MA | #35 of 38 in RI |
| School district | West Warwick | Dedham | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket |
| High school in town | West Warwick High School | Dedham High | William E. Tolman High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
10.4Lowest |
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.