Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Reading vs Central Falls vs Cumberland
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).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Cumberland has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Reading | Central Falls | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,521Highest |
25,612 |
22,701Lowest |
36,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
| Reading and Cumberland 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% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Cumberland 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Cumberland 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% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 24% below U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$117,522±$8k 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$431,000±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
$1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,960 27% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$4,870 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Cumberland 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 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 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% 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% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #37 of 38 in RI | #50 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Reading | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Reading Memorial High | Central Falls Sr High | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
12.1Lowest |
14.6 |
13.6 |
| 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.