Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Spencer vs East Providence
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).
East Providence has the shortest commute (23 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 | Spencer | East Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,521 |
12,008Lowest |
47,281Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.1±2.4 16% above U.S. |
| Spencer and East Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and East Providence 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% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Spencer and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$80,533±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
$75,912±$8k 6% below U.S. |
| Spencer and East Providence 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. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$365,500±$10k 10% above U.S. |
| Spencer and East Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,288±$75Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
$4,545Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and East Providence 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and East Providence 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #29 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Spencer-E Brookfield | East Providence |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | David Prouty High | East Providence High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2 |
9.9Lowest |
15.5Highest |
| 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.