Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Windham vs Sterling 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
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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.
| Measure | Woonsocket | Windham | Sterling | Central Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,521Highest |
23,961 |
3,629Lowest |
22,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
33.7±1.9 13% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9Highest about the U.S. average |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Sterling 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% |
20.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 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%±1.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Woonsocket and Windham 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% |
22.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$55,736±$5k 31% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$352,100±$30kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Central Falls and Woonsocket 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. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,200±$75Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Central Falls and Woonsocket 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. |
$4,633Highest 49% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% |
20.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling and Woonsocket 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #38 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Windham High School | None in town | Central Falls Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— | 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.