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Living in
Pawtucket.
About
Life in Pawtucket
Living here means being in a genuinely walkable urban setting where you're never far from Providence but have your own distinct identity. The median rent around $1,210 and home values near $326,000 are reasonable for the region, though income levels suggest tight household budgets for many residents. Pawtucket's real draw is the arts community that's taken root over the past two decades—there's a legitimate creative scene with galleries, theaters, and recording studios in converted mill buildings, plus an annual arts festival that brings the neighborhood together.
Pawtucket at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.3%
Foreign-Born
25.5%
Broadband Internet
89.5%
of households
Population Growth
+1.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics25.5% foreign-born, most often from Cabo Verde
Who lives in Pawtucket: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Pawtucket, the largest foreign-born group is from Cabo Verde (22.1%), and 20.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.4%
of residents
65 and Older
14.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.1%
of households
Married Couples
32.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.46
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 10% below RI average
Rent, home values, and income in Pawtucket
In Pawtucket, rent runs 10% below the RI average, and home values are 19% below the RI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
101.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,115
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
50.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1947
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $399,302 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts above RI average
Unemployment in Pawtucket
Unemployment in Pawtucket is 0.6 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 Pawtucket Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.6 min avg
How Pawtucket residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Pawtucket, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 64% 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 32% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Pawtucket runs 32% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
224
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,240.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Pawtucket 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 Pawtucket, 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
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Providence County, which includes Pawtucket, 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
Climate82°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Pawtucket 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 Pawtucket
Uninsured
4.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Pawtucket's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
The Miriam Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2 mi away · Providence
Butler Hospital
Psychiatric · 2.2 mi away · Providence
Arbour-fuller Hospital
Psychiatric · 3.7 mi away · South Attleboro
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.
Education13.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Pawtucket
Pawtucket's student/teacher ratio is 13.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 22.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
18
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
22.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Pawtucket (within 15 miles)
Community College of Rhode Island
12.5 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
4.3 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
4.3 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, 0 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Pawtucket
Pawtucket has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park (0 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
0 mi awayRoger Williams National Memorial
National Memorial
4 mi awayTouro Synagogue National Historic Site
National Historic Site
27 mi awayNew Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
National Historical Park
29 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
35 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
37 mi awayPublic Libraries in Pawtucket
Pawtucket Public Library
13 Summer Street, Pawtucket
Cities Near Pawtucket
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Pawtucket?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Pawtucket FAQ
Is Pawtucket, Rhode Island affordable?⌄
Pawtucket's median rent is $1,208/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $68,310/year. Median home value is $325,500.
Is Pawtucket, Rhode Island safe?⌄
Pawtucket's violent crime rate was 224 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1240 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Pawtucket, Rhode Island?⌄
Pawtucket has an unemployment rate of 5.1%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Pawtucket, Rhode Island?⌄
The cost of living in Pawtucket is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,208/month and median household income is $68,310/year. The median home value is $325,500. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Pawtucket, Rhode Island?⌄
The average commute in Pawtucket is 26 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