Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Johnston vs Blackstone 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).
Johnston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
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 | Johnston | Blackstone | Central Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,521Highest |
29,835 |
9,255Lowest |
22,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Blackstone 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% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 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% |
22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and Blackstone 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% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%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% |
6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston 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. |
$91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Blackstone and Johnston 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. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
| Johnston 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. |
$4,614 48% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone 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% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% 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. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #37 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI | #207 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Johnston | Blackstone-Millville | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Johnston Senior High | Blackstone Millville RHS | Central Falls Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
10.3Lowest |
13.6 |
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.