Compare towns

Woonsocket vs Fall River vs Pawtucket

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 most expensive homes ($396k median).
Pawtucket has the most homeowners (50.1%).

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.

MeasureWoonsocketFall RiverPawtucket
People
Population
43,521Lowest
94,082Highest
75,893
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
39.3±1.2Highest
about the U.S. average
37.1±0.8
5% below U.S.
Kids under 18
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Pawtucket 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%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.5%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Fall River 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%
16.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pawtucket 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.
$56,673±$3kLowest
30% below U.S.
$68,310±$4kHighest
15% below U.S.
Pawtucket and Woonsocket 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.
$395,500±$11kHighest
19% above U.S.
$325,500±$8k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
$1,155±$27Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,208±$39Highest
15% below U.S.
Pawtucket 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.
$3,953Lowest
27% above U.S.
$4,115Highest
32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
52.5%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Fall River and Woonsocket 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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
35.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Highest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1947
33 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
Work from home
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±1.2
U.S.: 15.1%
9.2%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pawtucket and Fall River 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 #262 of 282 in MA #35 of 38 in RI
School district RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket
High school in town Woonsocket High School B M C Durfee High William E. Tolman High
Students per teacherat that high school
15.2Highest
11.3Lowest
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.