Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Salem vs West Warwick
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 kids (23.3% under 18).
Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).
West Warwick has the most homeowners (57%).
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 | West Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,521 |
44,795Highest |
31,173Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
42.8±1.5Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Warwick and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$85,153±$5kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$77,608±$7k 4% below U.S. |
| Salem and West Warwick 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. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$330,800±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,303±$74 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,962 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
57%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #37 of 38 in RI | #248 of 282 in MA | #33 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Salem | West Warwick |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Salem High | West Warwick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
13.0 |
| 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.