Compare towns

Woonsocket vs Sutton vs Northbridge 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).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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.

MeasureWoonsocketSuttonNorthbridgeCentral Falls
People
Population
43,521Highest
9,452Lowest
16,458
22,701
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.7±1.3
8% below U.S.
44.3±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
43.8±2.6
13% above U.S.
32.5±2.3Lowest
16% below U.S.
Sutton and Northbridge 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%
19.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±2.9
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%
18.8%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.4%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
10.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sutton and Northbridge 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%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
10.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.3
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.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$111,319±$19k
38% above U.S.
$49,285±$8kLowest
39% below U.S.
Sutton and Northbridge 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.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$448,600±$15k
35% above U.S.
$352,100±$30k
6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
$1,207±$102Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,200±$75
15% below U.S.
Northbridge 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.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
$4,821
55% above U.S.
$3,744Lowest
20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±9.8
U.S.: 51.1%
56.7%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Central Falls and Northbridge 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%
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
24.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
25.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
11% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
6.4%±1.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
5.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sutton and Northbridge 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 #105 of 282 in MA #226 of 282 in MA #38 of 38 in RI
School district RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Sutton Northbridge Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning
High school in town Woonsocket High School Sutton High School Northbridge High Central Falls Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school
15.2Highest
12.6
10.8Lowest
14.6
On TownTapestry
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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.