Central Falls, RI: Local News, Events & Neighbors

Central Falls is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 22,583 at the 2020 census. With an area of only 1.29 square miles (3.3 km2), it is the smallest and most densely populated city in the smallest state, and the 23rd most densely populated incorporated place in the United States. It is one of only four incorporated places in New England that have a higher population density than the city of Boston, ranking second, behind the Massachusetts city of Somerville, an inner suburb of Boston. The city takes its name from a waterfall on the Blackstone River. Central Falls went into receivership in May 2010, then filed for bankruptcy in August 2011. After cutt…

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From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Central Falls ranks

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#1Fastest growing in RI #3Lowest property tax in RI #4Most affordable in RI All RI rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code02863

Area code401

Living in Central Falls

Housing in Central Falls

$383K▲ 1.4% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Central Falls home is worth about $383,000, up 1.4% in a year, 25% below the Rhode Island typical home.

Only 4 sales in May 2026, too few for a market read. The typical value is the steadier guide.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Central Falls

C⁺

Safety Grade C+

Central Falls reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 58% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Central Falls 2.7

Rhode Island 1.5

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Central Falls 7.8

Rhode Island 9.2

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Schools in Central Falls

All Central Falls schools →

D

School Grade D

The public schools Central Falls’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 95% of Rhode Island’s districts on state tests and graduation.

See how Central Falls’s schools compare in RI →

DistrictCentral FallsSchools11

The Learning Community CElementary · Grades K–8 · 569 students Ella Risk School DElementary · Grades K–5 · 414 students Veterans Memorial Elementary DElementary · Grades K–5 · 406 students Segue Inst for Learning C-Elementary · Grades K–8 · 359 students Raices Dual Language Academy D-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 206 students Calcutt Middle School D-Middle · Grades 6–8 · 476 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within RI. Ratings are from neighbors.

Famous people from Central FallsWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Central Falls.Meet them →