Compare towns
West Warwick vs Union vs North Providence
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 most renters (43% rent).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
North Providence has the most people working from home (12.4%).
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 | West Warwick | Union | North Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,173 |
944Lowest |
34,293Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±1.5 10% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.1±1.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Providence and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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+ | 26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Providence and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,608±$7kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$88,958±$14kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$83,756±$6k 4% above U.S. |
| Union and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,800±$12k about the U.S. average |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$355,900±$12kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,303±$74Lowest 8% below U.S. |
— | $1,405±$64Highest about the U.S. average |
| North Providence and West Warwick 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. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$4,843 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±7.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Providence and Union 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 | — | #26 of 38 in RI |
| School district | West Warwick | Union School District | North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island |
| High school in town | West Warwick High School | None in town | North Providence High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| 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.