Compare towns

Woonsocket vs Dover 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).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
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.

MeasureWoonsocketDoverCentral Falls
People
Population
43,521Highest
2,308Lowest
22,701
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.7±1.3
8% below U.S.
47.5±4Highest
22% above U.S.
32.5±2.3Lowest
16% below U.S.
Kids under 18
23.3%±2
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±4.8Lowest
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%
15.5%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
10.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dover and Woonsocket 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%
83.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
10.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
9.4%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover 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.
$250,001Highest
210% above U.S.
$49,285±$8kLowest
39% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$1,308,300±$149kHighest
293% above U.S.
$352,100±$30k
6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
—
$1,200±$75Highest
15% below U.S.
Central Falls and Woonsocket 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,744Lowest
20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
100%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.7%±8.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Dover and Central Falls 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%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
24.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
25.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
1967Highest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
11% above U.S.
37 minHighest
39% above U.S.
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
6.4%±1.7
U.S.: 15.1%
37.4%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #37 of 38 in RI #1 of 282 in MA #38 of 38 in RI
School district RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket — Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning
High school in town Woonsocket High School — Central Falls Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school
15.2Highest
—
14.6Lowest
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.