Compare towns

Woonsocket vs Franklin 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 renters (62.8% rent).
Franklin has the most homeowners (84.1%).
Pawtucket has the most people working from home (9.2%).

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.

MeasureWoonsocketFranklinPawtucket
People
Population
43,521
2,004Lowest
75,893Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+6.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
40.3±4.3Highest
4% above U.S.
37.1±0.8
5% below U.S.
Franklin and Pawtucket 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%
27.2%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Franklin 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%
17.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.5%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Franklin 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.4Lowest
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±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$105,000±$10kHighest
30% above U.S.
$68,310±$4k
15% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$326,200±$20kHighest
about the U.S. average
$325,500±$8k
about the U.S. average
Franklin and Pawtucket 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.
$767±$529Lowest
46% 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.
$3,934Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,115Highest
32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
19.5%±18.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.9%±4.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Woonsocket and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
Work from home
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.8%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
9.2%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pawtucket and Franklin 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 — #35 of 38 in RI
School district RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Franklin School District Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket
High school in town Woonsocket High School None in town William E. Tolman High
Students per teacherat that high school
15.2Highest
—
14.6Lowest
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.