Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Windsor Locks vs Putnam 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
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Windsor Locks | Putnam | Central Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,521Highest |
12,579 |
9,292Lowest |
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. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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 24% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13kHighest about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% 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. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,960Highest 27% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,744 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #37 of 38 in RI | #109 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #38 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Windsor Locks School District | Putnam School District | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Windsor Locks High School | Putnam High School | Central Falls Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
8.9Lowest |
9.5 |
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.