Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Putnam vs Plainfield 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
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Central Falls has the most renters (74.4% rent).
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 | Putnam | Plainfield | Central Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,521Highest |
9,292Lowest |
15,141 |
22,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Plainfield 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 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% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Plainfield 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% |
20%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$352,100±$30kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Central Falls and Woonsocket 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. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$4,209Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Woonsocket 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #38 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Putnam School District | Plainfield School District | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Putnam High School | Plainfield High School | Central Falls Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
9.5Lowest |
10.3 |
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.