Compare towns

Woonsocket vs Dudley 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).
Dudley has the most homeowners (73.1%).
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.

MeasureWoonsocketDudleyCentral Falls
People
Population
43,521Highest
11,929Lowest
22,701
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.7±1.3
8% below U.S.
40.2±2.4Highest
3% above U.S.
32.5±2.3Lowest
16% below U.S.
Kids under 18
23.3%±2
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±3.3Lowest
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%
16.9%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
10.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dudley 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%
24.1%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%
13.1%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$61,059±$5k
24% below U.S.
$84,604±$12kHighest
5% above U.S.
$49,285±$8kLowest
39% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$392,600±$19kHighest
18% above U.S.
$352,100±$30k
6% above U.S.
Dudley and Central Falls 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.
$1,217±$182Highest
14% below U.S.
$1,200±$75
15% below U.S.
Dudley and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,960Highest
27% above U.S.
$3,691Lowest
18% above U.S.
$3,744
20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.4%±4.1
U.S.: 51.1%
56.7%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Central Falls and Dudley 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%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
24.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.1%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 minHighest
11% above U.S.
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
6.4%±1.7
U.S.: 15.1%
9.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dudley 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 #142 of 282 in MA #38 of 38 in RI
School district RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Dudley-Charlton Reg Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning
High school in town Woonsocket High School Shepherd Hill Regional High Central Falls Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school
15.2Highest
14.3Lowest
14.6
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.