Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Needham vs Central Falls vs North Smithfield
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
North Smithfield has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Needham | Central Falls | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,521Highest |
32,459 |
22,701 |
12,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Central Falls 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% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Smithfield and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,960 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #37 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Needham | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Needham High | Central Falls Sr High | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
11.9Lowest |
14.6 |
12.1 |
| 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.