Compare towns
West Warwick vs Plainfield 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 oldest population (median age 42.8).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Pawtucket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,173 |
15,141Lowest |
75,893Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±1.5Highest 10% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
37.1±0.8 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pawtucket and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Warwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Warwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,608±$7kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$68,310±$4kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| West Warwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,800±$12kHighest about the U.S. average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$325,500±$8k about the U.S. average |
| West Warwick and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,303±$74Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,208±$39 15% below U.S. |
| West Warwick and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,962Highest 59% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$4,115Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±7.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pawtucket and West Warwick 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% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Pawtucket 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 | #33 of 38 in RI | #131 of 149 in CT | #35 of 38 in RI |
| School district | West Warwick | Plainfield School District | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket |
| High school in town | West Warwick High School | Plainfield High School | William E. Tolman High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
10.3Lowest |
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.