City · Rhode Island
Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Woonsocket, city, in Providence County, Rhode Island. Woonsocket had 44,580 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 43,240 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 43,521 (±41). GEOID 4480780.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
44,580
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 43,240 · ACS 2020-2024: 43,521 ±41
Median household income
$61,059
±$5,299 (90% margin)
Rhode Island: $87,796
Median home value
$311,000
±$14,526 (90% margin)
Rhode Island: $404,200
Median gross rent
$1,161
±$48 (90% margin)
Rhode Island: $1,342
Where is Woonsocket and what county is it in?
Woonsocket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island. It covers 7.7 square miles of land, 5,582 residents per square mile in 2020.
Woonsocket is in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 6 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Woonsocket, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 44,580 people lived in Woonsocket on July 1, 2025, up 3.1% since 2020, faster than Rhode Island (+1.6%). The 2020 Census counted 43,240 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 43,521 (±41).
| Measure | Woonsocket | Providence County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 43,521±41 | 664,854 | +1,918 |
| Households | 17,618±678 | 259,210 | +955 |
| Average household size | 2.43±0.09 | 2.46 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 19,429±654 | 277,740 | no clear change |
Woonsocket's population since 2000
From 43,224 in 2000 to 44,580 in 2025: up 3.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Woonsocket as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Woonsocket?
The median resident of Woonsocket is 35.7 years old; 23.3% are under 18 and 14.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 52.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 25.5%. 14.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Woonsocket | Providence County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7±1.3 | 38.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 23.3%±1.7 pts | 20.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.7%±1.5 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Male | 48.0%±1.5 pts | 49.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 25.5%±2.8 pts | 25.6% | +6.7 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 52.1%±3.1 pts | 56.5% | −10.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 6.0%±1.5 pts | 7.0% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 7.0%±1.8 pts | 4.2% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 8.3%±2.0 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.0%±0.5 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 14.6%±2.4 pts | 20.9% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 31.0%±3.2 pts | 32.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.6%±1.0 pts | 4.0% | – |
| With a disability | 19.5%±1.9 pts | 14.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.3%±1.7 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 82.6%±1.8 pts | 86.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 19.8%±2.3 pts | 32.3% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.9%±1.1 pts | 12.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.1%±2.6 pts | 87.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.9%±1.3 pts | 3.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Woonsocket earn?
Half of Woonsocket's 17,618 households earn less than $61,059 a year (±$5,299), against $78,787 in Providence County and $87,796 in Rhode Island. In 2015-2019 the median was $52,421 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $8,638 after inflation. 18.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Woonsocket | Providence County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $61,059±$5,299 | $78,787 | +$8,638 |
| Mean household income | $76,386±$4,413 | $103,330 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,639±$1,624 | $41,523 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 18.7%±2.5 pts | 13.4% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 28.3%±6.0 pts | 17.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 29.2%±2.8 pts | 17.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 93.3%±1.2 pts | 94.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.6%±1.6 pts | 90.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Woonsocket?
Owners occupy 37.2% of Woonsocket's occupied homes and renters 62.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $311,000 by its owner (±$14,526). The median renter pays $1,161 a month including utilities, and 38.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Woonsocket | Providence County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $311,000±$14,526 | $373,600 | +$97,721 |
| Median gross rent | $1,161±$48 | $1,312 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.0%±4.4 pts | 37.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,961±$79 | $2,152 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 37.2%±2.7 pts | 56.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 62.8%±2.7 pts | 43.1% | – |
| Housing units | 19,429±654 | 277,740 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 3.6%±1.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.9%±2.0 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 26.2%±2.5 pts | 45.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.0%±1.0 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 41.0%±3.3 pts | 35.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 16.7%±2.5 pts | 11.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Woonsocket building?
Builders took permits for 28 new housing units in Woonsocket in 2025 (4 in single-family houses), 0.6 per 1,000 residents against 1.6 across Rhode Island.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Woonsocket work and get to work?
73.0% of Woonsocket's workers drive alone and 6.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 29.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.8%.
| Measure | Woonsocket | Providence County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.4%±2.4 pts | 65.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.8%±1.5 pts | 6.6% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 73.0%±3.0 pts | 70.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.8%±2.4 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.7%±0.7 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Walked | 1.3%±0.6 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.4%±1.7 pts | 12.3% | +4.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 29.3 min±1.6 | 25.9 min | +3.7 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Woonsocket?
13 census tracts lie mostly in Woonsocket (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $25,933 (Tract 180) to $91,591 (Tract 182).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 184Providence County | 6,541 | $64,679 |
| Tract 174Providence County | 4,217 | $54,412 |
| Tract 173Providence County | 3,843 | $87,400 |
| Tract 177Providence County | 3,520 | $89,063 |
| Tract 175Providence County | 3,419 | $73,234 |
| Tract 181Providence County | 3,178 | $54,776 |
| Tract 182Providence County | 3,162 | $91,591 |
| Tract 179Providence County | 2,985 | $33,895 |
| Tract 178Providence County | 2,939 | $42,432 |
| Tract 176Providence County | 2,851 | $47,951 |
| Tract 185Providence County | 2,776 | $85,428 |
| Tract 180Providence County | 2,585 | $25,933 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Woonsocket) · Census block assignment files
How does Woonsocket compare with other places in Rhode Island?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Woonsocket is the 932nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 6th-most populous of 8 in Rhode Island.
Woonsocket ranks 56th of 57 places in Rhode Island with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 6th | 8 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 10th | 39 |
| Residents per square mile | 5th | 57 |
| Median household income | 56th | 57 |
| Per capita income | 55th | 57 |
| Median home value | 55th | 56 |
| Median gross rent | 46th | 51 |
| Poverty rate | 4th | 45 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 56th | 57 |
| Median age | 52nd | 57 |
| Owner-occupied share | 55th | 56 |
| Work from home | 48th | 49 |
| Travel time to work | 13th | 57 |
Woonsocket's figures with every place in Rhode Island (CSV)
Every place in Rhode Island, sortable · Compare Woonsocket with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Woonsocket?
4 of the 57 figures for Woonsocket on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Woonsocket are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Woonsocket.