Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Exeter vs Central Falls vs Cumberland
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).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Cumberland has the most homeowners (76.3%).
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 | Exeter | Central Falls | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,521Highest |
16,151Lowest |
22,701 |
36,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Cumberland 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Cumberland 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$431,000±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Cumberland 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. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
$1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,960 27% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$4,870 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Cumberland 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #38 of 38 in RI | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Exeter High School | Central Falls Sr High | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
12.1Lowest |
14.6 |
13.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.