Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Sharon vs Central Falls vs Blackstone
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).
Sharon has the highest household income ($192k).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Blackstone has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Sharon | Central Falls | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,521Highest |
18,574 |
22,701 |
9,255Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
42.5±1 9% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.2±1.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Blackstone and Sharon 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% |
27.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon 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% |
17.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Blackstone and Sharon 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% |
76.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and Sharon 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. |
$191,835±$19kHighest 138% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$737,100±$33kHighest 122% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,310±$345Highest 63% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% 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. |
$5,703 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Central Falls 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #37 of 38 in RI | #23 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Sharon | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Sharon High | Central Falls Sr High | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
11.9Lowest |
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.