Compare towns

Woonsocket vs Warren vs Central Falls

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Warren has the most people working from home (14.4%).
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.

MeasureWoonsocketWarrenCentral Falls
People
Population
43,521Highest
11,144Lowest
22,701
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
+5.1%
RI: +4.3%
+16.6%Highest
RI: +4.3%
Median age
35.7±1.3
12% below RI
49±2.9Highest
21% above RI
32.5±2.3Lowest
20% below RI
Kids under 18
23.3%±2
RI: 18.8%
14%±2.2Lowest
RI: 18.8%
26.1%±3.7Highest
RI: 18.8%
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
RI: 18.7%
25%±3.5Highest
RI: 18.7%
10.7%±2Lowest
RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.8%
RI: 37.7%
36.4%Highest
RI: 37.7%
10.8%Lowest
RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±0.9Highest
RI: 8.3%
4.1%±1.5Lowest
RI: 8.3%
4.6%±1.7
RI: 8.3%
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
30% below RI
$90,729±$12kHighest
3% above RI
$49,285±$8kLowest
44% below RI
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$311,000±$15kLowest
23% below RI
$395,700±$22kHighest
about the RI average
$352,100±$30k
13% below RI
Warren 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
13% below RI
$1,363±$96Highest
about the RI average
$1,200±$75
11% below RI
Warren 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
19% below RI
$5,474Highest
12% above RI
$3,744Lowest
24% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.7%±5.4Lowest
RI: 48%
54.6%±9.4
RI: 48%
56.7%±8.2Highest
RI: 48%
Central Falls and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
18.7%
RI: 11.2%
9.7%Lowest
RI: 11.2%
24.6%Highest
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%
RI: 63.6%
61.3%Highest
RI: 63.6%
25.6%Lowest
RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Highest
10 yrs older than RI
1950
12 yrs older than RI
1944Lowest
18 yrs older than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
15% above RI
25 minLowest
about the RI average
27 min
7% above RI
Work from home
6.4%±1.7
RI: 13%
14.4%±3.3Highest
RI: 13%
5.2%±2Lowest
RI: 13%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #37 of 38 in RI #31 of 38 in RI #38 of 38 in RI
School district RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Highlander · Bristol Warren Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning
High school in town Woonsocket High School Highlander Secondary Charter S Central Falls Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school
15.2
15.5Highest
14.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
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RI 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.