Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Fall River vs Central Falls vs Blackstone
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).
Fall River has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
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 | Fall River | Central Falls | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,521 |
94,082Highest |
22,701 |
9,255Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.2±1.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 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% |
16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Blackstone and Fall River 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% |
16.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and Central Falls 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. |
$56,673±$3k 30% below U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$94,191±$21kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$395,500±$11k 19% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Blackstone and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,200±$75Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
| Central Falls and Blackstone 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. |
$3,953 27% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone 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% |
19.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #37 of 38 in RI | #262 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | B M C Durfee High | Central Falls Sr High | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
11.3Lowest |
14.6 |
13.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.