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.
| Measure | Woonsocket | Dedham | East Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| 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 | |||
| 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.


