Compare towns

Woonsocket vs Dedham vs East 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

Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
East Providence has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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.

MeasureWoonsocketDedhamEast Providence
People
Population
43,521
25,237Lowest
47,281Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
45.1±2.4Highest
16% above U.S.
East Providence and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.8%±1.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Dedham and East Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.2Lowest
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±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$128,955±$10kHighest
60% above U.S.
$75,912±$8k
6% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
$365,500±$10k
10% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,288±$75
9% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$4,545
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±6.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Dedham and East Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1956
24 yrs older than U.S.
1958Highest
22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #37 of 38 in RI #119 of 282 in MA #29 of 38 in RI
School district RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Dedham East Providence
High school in town Woonsocket High School Dedham High East Providence High
Students per teacherat that high school
15.2
10.4Lowest
15.5Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.