Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Glocester vs Central Falls vs North Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Glocester has the most homeowners (91%).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
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 | Glocester | Central Falls | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,521Highest |
10,221Lowest |
22,701 |
12,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% RI: +4.3% |
+2.3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+16.6%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+5.2% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3 12% below RI |
50.8±4.3Highest 25% above RI |
32.5±2.3Lowest 20% below RI |
45.5±3.9 12% above RI |
| Glocester and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±2 RI: 18.8% |
19.8%±4.3 RI: 18.8% |
26.1%±3.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.2%±3.2Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| 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 RI: 18.7% |
22.2%±3.4Highest RI: 18.7% |
10.7%±2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
20.9%±2.8 RI: 18.7% |
| Glocester and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8% RI: 37.7% |
35.7%Highest RI: 37.7% |
10.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
33.8% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest RI: 8.3% |
4.6%±1.7 RI: 8.3% |
4.4%±1.3 RI: 8.3% |
| 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 30% below RI |
$113,508±$7kHighest 29% above RI |
$49,285±$8kLowest 44% below RI |
$108,866±$12k 24% above RI |
| Glocester and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,000±$15kLowest 23% below RI |
$396,500±$28k about the RI average |
$352,100±$30k 13% below RI |
$457,200±$21kHighest 13% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,161±$48Lowest 13% below RI |
$1,417±$627Highest 6% above RI |
$1,200±$75 11% below RI |
$1,282±$531 4% below RI |
| Glocester and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,960 19% below RI |
$5,248Highest 7% above RI |
$3,744Lowest 24% below RI |
$5,219 7% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4 RI: 48% |
64.5%±24Highest RI: 48% |
56.7%±8.2 RI: 48% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest RI: 48% |
| Glocester 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% RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
24.6%Highest RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% RI: 63.6% |
91%Highest RI: 63.6% |
25.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
77.9% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 10 yrs older than RI |
1975Highest 13 yrs newer than RI |
1944Lowest 18 yrs older than RI |
1972 10 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 15% above RI |
34 minHighest 35% above RI |
27 min 7% above RI |
26 minLowest 4% above RI |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7 RI: 13% |
13.1%±4.7 RI: 13% |
5.2%±2Lowest RI: 13% |
14.2%±3.6Highest RI: 13% |
| North Smithfield and Glocester 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 | #12 of 38 in RI | #38 of 38 in RI | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Ponaganset High School | Central Falls Sr High | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
12.8 |
14.6 |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.