Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Salem 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).
Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Salem | Central Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,521 |
44,795Highest |
22,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
39.3±1.5Highest about the U.S. average |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
17.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Woonsocket 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% |
47.8%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% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$85,153±$5kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,960 27% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Salem 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% |
12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Highest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #37 of 38 in RI | #248 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Salem | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Salem High | Central Falls Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
14.6 |
| 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.