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Living in
Central Falls.
About
Life in Central Falls
Central Falls is a community of 22,481 people in Rhode Island. The median household income is $49,285, median rent runs about $1,200 per month, and median home values are around $352,100. The unemployment rate is 5.4%.
Central Falls at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
24.6%
Foreign-Born
44.2%
Broadband Internet
86.5%
of households
Population Growth
+2.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics44.2% foreign-born, most often from Guatemala
Who lives in Central Falls: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Central Falls, the largest foreign-born group is from Guatemala (39.2%), and 62.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.1%
of residents
65 and Older
10.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
39.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.6%
of households
Married Couples
30.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.83
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 11% below RI average
Rent, home values, and income in Central Falls
In Central Falls, rent runs 11% below the RI average, and home values are 13% below the RI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
54.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
101.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,744
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
25.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1944
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $382,044 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above RI average
Unemployment in Central Falls
Unemployment in Central Falls is 0.9 percentage points higher than the RI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Central Falls Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute27.4 min avg
How Central Falls residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Central Falls, most residents drive alone to work (59%), and 54% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 mi
Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD)
Small hub2.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 38 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 17% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Central Falls runs 17% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
272.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
787.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Central Falls Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 9 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
93.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Providence County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Providence County, which includes Central Falls, the most common type is strong wind, with 9 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $19,800 |
| 2024 | 10 | Heavy Snow | $38,200 |
| 2023 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $321,700 |
| 2022 | 18 | Strong Wind | $1.1M |
| 2021 | 19 | Strong Wind | $168,700 |
| 2020 | 27 | Strong Wind | $95,300 |
| 2019 | 17 | Strong Wind | $32,100 |
| 2018 | 19 | Winter Storm | $1.0M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Providence County, county-wide
Central Falls is about 3% of Providence County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Providence County, which includes Central Falls, is typically good — 268 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
268
per year
Moderate Days
96
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Providence County, county-wide
Central Falls is about 3% of Providence County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Central Falls has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
40°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.6"
Annual Snowfall
41.5"
Hot Days/Year
14
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
129
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
133
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 19°F | 4.37" |
| Feb | 40°F | 21°F | 3.67" |
| Mar | 47°F | 28°F | 4.89" |
| Apr | 60°F | 38°F | 4.71" |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 3.64" |
| Jun | 79°F | 57°F | 4.26" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 3.62" |
| Aug | 83°F | 62°F | 4.01" |
| Sep | 75°F | 54°F | 4.17" |
| Oct | 64°F | 42°F | 5.08" |
| Nov | 53°F | 33°F | 4.22" |
| Dec | 43°F | 25°F | 5.27" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Central Falls
Uninsured
17.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Central Falls's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
The Miriam Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.7 mi away · Providence
Arbour-fuller Hospital
Psychiatric · 3 mi away · South Attleboro
Butler Hospital
Psychiatric · 3.2 mi away · Providence
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Central Falls
Central Falls's student/teacher ratio is 13.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 10.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
10.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Central Falls (within 15 miles)
Community College of Rhode Island
13.1 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 11,171 students · in-state tuition $5,868 · 26% graduate · median earnings $47,965 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,226 students · in-state tuition $74,650 · 97% graduate · median earnings $99,974 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,229 students · in-state tuition $65,960 · 86% graduate · median earnings $90,260 (10 yrs after entry)
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
4.9 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 3,868 students · in-state tuition $44,581 · 58% graduate · median earnings $53,928 (10 yrs after entry)
Johnson & Wales University-Online
4.9 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,202 students · in-state tuition $13,365 · 28% graduate · median earnings $53,928 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,084 students · in-state tuition $65,136 · 91% graduate · median earnings $69,341 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, 1 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Central Falls
Central Falls has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park (1 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
1 mi awayRoger Williams National Memorial
National Memorial
4 mi awayTouro Synagogue National Historic Site
National Historic Site
28 mi awayNew Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
National Historical Park
30 mi awayAdams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
32 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
33 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
34 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
36 mi awayPublic Libraries in Central Falls
Adams Public Library
205 Central Street, Central Falls
Cities Near Central Falls
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Central Falls?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Central Falls FAQ
Is Central Falls, Rhode Island affordable?⌄
Central Falls's median rent is $1,200/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $49,285/year. Median home value is $352,100.
Is Central Falls, Rhode Island safe?⌄
Central Falls's violent crime rate was 273 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 787 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Central Falls, Rhode Island?⌄
Central Falls has an unemployment rate of 5.4%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Central Falls, Rhode Island?⌄
The cost of living in Central Falls is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,200/month and median household income is $49,285/year. The median home value is $352,100. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Central Falls, Rhode Island?⌄
The average commute in Central Falls is 27 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from