Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Dedham vs Danvers vs Central Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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 | Dedham | Danvers | Central Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,521Highest |
25,237 |
28,098 |
22,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham 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 24% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,960 27% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Dedham | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Dedham High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Central Falls Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
12.8 |
14.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.