Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Fall River vs West Warwick 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).
Fall River has the most expensive homes ($396k median).
West Warwick has the most homeowners (57%).
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.
| Measure | Woonsocket | Fall River | West Warwick | Central Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,521 |
94,082Highest |
31,173 |
22,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
42.8±1.5Highest 10% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.3Lowest 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% |
16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%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% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Warwick 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±$3k 30% below U.S. |
$77,608±$7kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$395,500±$11kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$330,800±$12k about the U.S. average |
$352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,303±$74Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
| West Warwick and Central Falls 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. |
$4,962Highest 59% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Fall River 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% |
9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
57%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Warwick 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 | #33 of 38 in RI | #38 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | West Warwick | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | B M C Durfee High | West Warwick High School | Central Falls Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
11.3Lowest |
13.0 |
14.6 |
| 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.