Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Hardwick 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).
Hardwick has the most homeowners (68.2%).
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 | Hardwick | Central Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,521Highest |
2,684Lowest |
22,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Woonsocket 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% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest 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% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%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% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick 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. |
$75,000±$22kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Hardwick 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. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Central Falls and Hardwick 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. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,200±$75Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Central Falls 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. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick 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% |
11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 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 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hardwick and Woonsocket 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Quabbin | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | None in town | Central Falls Sr 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.