City profile · Rhode Island · Census ACS 2023

Woonsocket, RI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Woonsocket - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

43,074
Residents
$58,614
Median income
$268,000
Median home
$1,729
Median rent (state)

Woonsocket - the verdict

Nationally, Woonsocket sits in the 33rd percentile for household income and the 35th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

33rd
percentile, household income
59th
percentile, home value
70th
percentile, median rent
35th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Woonsocket, RI

Woonsocket is a small city in Rhode Island, home to 43,074 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Woonsocket brings in $58,614 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 15.7%. Home values in Woonsocket run a median of $268,000, and the median resident age is 35.7 years. About 18.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 57.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 26 residential building permits were authorized in Woonsocket (Rapid Growth), up 37% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 1891.4 incidents per 100,000 residents, near the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 51.1°F with 51.9 inches of precipitation per year and 41.5 inches of snowfall.

Rhode Island tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Rhode Island at 102.3 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,729 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Rhode Island run around $318, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 93.7 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

43,074 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Rhode Island

Median Household Income

$58,614 /yr

Poverty 15.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

102.3 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Rhode Island average

How does Woonsocket compare to other US cities?

Here's how Woonsocket stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 33% higher than other cities
Home value 59% pricier than other cities
Median rent 70% pricier than other cities
Safety 35% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Rhode Island and the picture shifts: Woonsocket ranks #10 of 11 Rhode Island cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Woonsocket against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Rhode Island only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Rhode Island-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Woonsocket near the bottom of Rhode Island's cities

Among the 36 Rhode Island cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Woonsocket ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Woonsocket only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#31 of 33
6th percentile in Rhode Island
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 36
0th percentile in Rhode Island
Median Home Value
#33 of 35
6th percentile in Rhode Island
Poverty Rate
#2 of 36
94th percentile in Rhode Island
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#33 of 36
8th percentile in Rhode Island

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Rhode Island only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

33rdIncome percentile
35thSafety percentile

33rd percentile nationally for median household income · 35th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Woonsocket's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Woonsocket's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 35 Avg. percentile National median
Woonsocket's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Woonsocket's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$268,000 41st percentile more affordable than 41% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Woonsocket $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Woonsocket, RI Woonsocket, RI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Woonsocket, RI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Woonsocket, RI median $58,614/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Woonsocket, RI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Woonsocket, RI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
43,074
Median Income
$58,614
Median Home Value
$268,000
Median Age
35.7
Poverty Rate
15.7%
Labor force participation
57.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1891.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
390.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1500.8
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
51.1°F
Annual Precipitation
51.9"
Annual Snowfall
41.5"

Schools

Total Schools
12
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
42,500 residents43,000 residents43,500 residents44,000 residents44,500 residents45,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 43,160 residents 44,580 residents ▲ +3.3%
Woonsocket's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
26
housing units authorized
Single-Family
26
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 19
2020 35
2021 35
2022 18
2023 198
2024 26

Permit volume increased 37% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
76.3%
Carpool
11.2%
Public Transit
1.9%
Walk
1.4%
Work from Home
4.5%
Other
4.7%

Based on 18,905 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Rhode Island - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$155
avg/month
Natural Gas
$105
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$58
avg/month
Total Utilities
$318
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Rhode Island state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Rhode Island state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Woonsocket sits in

Cost of Living Index
102.3
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,729/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
93.7 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Rhode Island

East Providence
46,970 people
Newport
25,029 people
Central Falls
22,481 people
Westerly
18,528 people
Valley Falls
12,370 people
Newport East
11,262 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Woonsocket's 43,074 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Sumter, SC
43,065 people
North Miami Beach, FL
43,104 people
Schertz, TX
43,128 people
Hollister, CA
43,003 people
Delaware, OH
43,168 people
West Babylon, NY
43,239 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Woonsocket's $58,614 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Owen, WI
$58,611 median income
Apache Junction, AZ
$58,619 median income
Archer City, TX
$58,607 median income
Lawrenceville, GA
$58,606 median income
Monson Center, MA
$58,603 median income
Castile, NY
$58,625 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Woonsocket, RI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Woonsocket, RI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 58.9% 7.4% 6.9% 7.0% 18.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 25.8% White 58.9% Black or African American 7.4% Asian 6.9% American Indian 1.3% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 7.0% Two or more races 18.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Woonsocket compares to nearby Rhode Island cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Woonsocket (this city) 43,074 $58,614
East Providence 46,970 $79,660
Newport 25,029 $83,562
Central Falls 22,481 $45,921
Census ACS 5-year FIPS RI FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Woonsocket, RI?

What is the population of Woonsocket, RI? +

43,074 people live in Woonsocket, RI according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Woonsocket, RI? +

Median annual household income in Woonsocket runs $58,614, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Woonsocket? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Woonsocket; the closest available measure is the Rhode Island state average, a cost of living index of 102.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Rhode Island vary by metro area.

Is Woonsocket, RI safe? +

Woonsocket has a total crime rate of 1891.4 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Woonsocket, RI? +

The median home value in Woonsocket is $268,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Woonsocket? +

Woonsocket has an average annual temperature of 51.1°F, 51.9 inches of precipitation, and 41.5 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.