Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Springfield vs Central Falls vs Pawtucket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Pawtucket has the highest household income ($68k).
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 | Springfield | Central Falls | Pawtucket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,521 |
154,749Highest |
22,701Lowest |
75,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
33.7±0.5 13% below U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
37.1±0.8Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Pawtucket and Woonsocket 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% |
24.2%±0.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Woonsocket and Pawtucket 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% |
20.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$52,656±$2k 35% below U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$68,310±$4kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Pawtucket 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±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$352,100±$30kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$325,500±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Central Falls and Pawtucket 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. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
$1,208±$39Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Pawtucket 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. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,744 20% above U.S. |
$4,115Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Highest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Highest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pawtucket and Springfield 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI | #35 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Springfield | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Springfield Central High | Central Falls Sr High | William E. Tolman High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
12.2Lowest |
14.6 |
14.6 |
| 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.