Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Central Falls vs West Warwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
West Warwick has the most homeowners (57%).
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 | Woonsocket | Central Falls | West Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,521Highest |
22,701Lowest |
31,173 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+16.6%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+6.2% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3 12% below RI |
32.5±2.3Lowest 20% below RI |
42.8±1.5Highest 5% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±2 RI: 18.8% |
26.1%±3.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
15.7%±2.3Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Central Falls and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±1.4 RI: 18.7% |
10.7%±2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
20%±2.1Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8% RI: 37.7% |
10.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
26.4%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9 RI: 8.3% |
4.6%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
5.7%±1.3Highest RI: 8.3% |
| West Warwick and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,059±$5k 30% below RI |
$49,285±$8kLowest 44% below RI |
$77,608±$7kHighest 12% below RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,000±$15kLowest 23% below RI |
$352,100±$30kHighest 13% below RI |
$330,800±$12k 18% below RI |
| Central Falls and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,161±$48Lowest 13% below RI |
$1,200±$75 11% below RI |
$1,303±$74Highest about the RI average |
| West Warwick and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,960 19% below RI |
$3,744Lowest 24% below RI |
$4,962Highest about the RI average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4 RI: 48% |
56.7%±8.2Highest RI: 48% |
43.5%±7.8Lowest RI: 48% |
| Central Falls and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.7% RI: 11.2% |
24.6%Highest RI: 11.2% |
9.6%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% RI: 63.6% |
25.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
57%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 10 yrs older than RI |
1944Lowest 18 yrs older than RI |
1968Highest 6 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 15% above RI |
27 min 7% above RI |
25 minLowest about the RI average |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7 RI: 13% |
5.2%±2Lowest RI: 13% |
7.2%±2Highest RI: 13% |
| West Warwick and Woonsocket 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #38 of 38 in RI | #33 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | West Warwick |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Central Falls Sr High | West Warwick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
14.6 |
13.0Lowest |
| 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.