Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Sheffield 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).
Sheffield has the most homeowners (82.3%).
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 | Sheffield | Central Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,521Highest |
3,330Lowest |
22,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
48.2±8Highest 24% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4Lowest 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% |
23.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 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. |
$92,120±$31kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Sheffield and Woonsocket 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. |
$409,400±$32kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
| Sheffield and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
| Sheffield 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. |
$4,520Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheffield and Woonsocket 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 | #250 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Southern Berkshire | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Mt Everett Regional | Central Falls Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
7.8Lowest |
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.