Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Warwick vs Central Falls vs North Smithfield
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).
Warwick has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
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 | Warwick | Central Falls | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,521 |
83,175Highest |
22,701 |
12,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% RI: +4.3% |
+0.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+16.6%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+5.2% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3 12% below RI |
44.3±1 9% above RI |
32.5±2.3Lowest 20% below RI |
45.5±3.9Highest 12% above RI |
| North Smithfield and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±2 RI: 18.8% |
17.6%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.8% |
26.1%±3.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.2%±3.2 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% |
21.6%±1.2Highest RI: 18.7% |
10.7%±2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
20.9%±2.8 RI: 18.7% |
| Warwick and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8% RI: 37.7% |
33.7% RI: 37.7% |
10.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
33.8%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9 RI: 8.3% |
5.6%±0.7Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.6%±1.7 RI: 8.3% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Warwick 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±$5k 30% below RI |
$88,708±$6k about the RI average |
$49,285±$8kLowest 44% below RI |
$108,866±$12kHighest 24% above RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,000±$15kLowest 23% below RI |
$354,600±$5k 12% below RI |
$352,100±$30k 13% below RI |
$457,200±$21kHighest 13% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,161±$48Lowest 13% below RI |
$1,363±$76Highest about the RI average |
$1,200±$75 11% below RI |
$1,282±$531 4% below RI |
| Warwick and North Smithfield 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 |
$4,616 6% below RI |
$3,744Lowest 24% below RI |
$5,219Highest 7% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4 RI: 48% |
53.1%±6.1 RI: 48% |
56.7%±8.2Highest RI: 48% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest RI: 48% |
| Central Falls and Warwick 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% |
7.6% RI: 11.2% |
24.6%Highest RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% RI: 63.6% |
73.3% RI: 63.6% |
25.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
77.9%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 10 yrs older than RI |
1961 1 yr older than RI |
1944Lowest 18 yrs older than RI |
1972Highest 10 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 15% above RI |
25 minLowest 4% below RI |
27 min 7% above RI |
26 min 4% above RI |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7 RI: 13% |
12.4%±1.2 RI: 13% |
5.2%±2Lowest RI: 13% |
14.2%±3.6Highest RI: 13% |
| North Smithfield and Warwick 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 | #28 of 38 in RI | #38 of 38 in RI | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Warwick | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Pilgrim High School | Central Falls Sr High | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
10.5Lowest |
14.6 |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.