Compare towns

Woonsocket vs Westminster 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).
Westminster has the most homeowners (87.6%).
Central Falls has the most renters (74.4% rent).

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.

MeasureWoonsocketWestminsterCentral Falls
People
Population
43,521Highest
8,374Lowest
22,701
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.7±1.3
8% below U.S.
48.3±4.6Highest
24% above U.S.
32.5±2.3Lowest
16% below U.S.
Kids under 18
23.3%±2
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±4.4Lowest
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%
26%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
10.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
10.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.2Lowest
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.
$106,331±$22kHighest
32% above U.S.
$49,285±$8kLowest
39% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$422,000±$36kHighest
27% above U.S.
$352,100±$30k
6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,843±$268Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,200±$75
15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,960
27% above U.S.
$4,973Highest
59% above U.S.
$3,744Lowest
20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60%±27.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.7%±8.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Westminster 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%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
24.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
25.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
6.4%±1.7
U.S.: 15.1%
12.5%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #37 of 38 in RI #112 of 282 in MA #38 of 38 in RI
School district RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Ashburnham-Westminster Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning
High school in town Woonsocket High School Oakmont Regional High School Central Falls Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school
15.2Highest
13.6Lowest
14.6
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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.