The Town FilesCentral Falls, Rhode Island
City in Providence County · population 22,583 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $352,100
- Household income
- $49,285
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 32.5
Central Falls is a city of 22,583 people in Providence County, Rhode Island. The median home is worth $352,100, below the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Rhode Island towns, more vibrant than 98% of Rhode Island towns, better transit than 97% of Rhode Island towns.
How Central Falls ranks
Percentile among Rhode Island towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Rhode Island towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Central Falls is worth $352,100, below the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). Homes cost about 7.1 times the median household income of $49,285, which is more affordable than 7% of Rhode Island towns. Median rent is $1,200 a month. 25.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Central Falls | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $352,100 | $432,850 |
| Median rent | $1,200 | $1,362 |
| Median household income | $49,285 | $102,946 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.1× | 4.3× |
| Homeownership | 25.6% | 75.9% |
| Median year built | 1944 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Central Falls
| People | Central Falls | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.5 | 43.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.7% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.8% | 40.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.6% | 6.2% |
| Veterans | 2.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 44.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 12.4% |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.5% | 93.3% |
Weather in Central Falls
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 18.8°F. About 51.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.5 inches of snow (typical Rhode Island town: 36.6 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central Falls since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical Rhode Island town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 18, 2023 about 2.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 18, 2012.
Severe weather in Providence County since 1996
Providence County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for other, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4765: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4766: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| January 7, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4753: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| May 12, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4653: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 21, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3563: Hurricane Henri |
Jobs and pay in Providence County
Providence County had 288,107 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,852 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Central Falls itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Public schools in Central Falls
10 public schools with 3,747 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Falls Sr High | 9-12 | 805 | 15.8 |
| The Learning Community (charter) | K-8 | 571 | 12.1 |
| Calcutt Middle School | 6-8 | 469 | 13.8 |
| Ella Risk School | K-5 | 386 | 10.7 |
| Veterans Memorial Elementary | K-5 | 377 | 10.8 |
| Segue Inst for Learning (charter) | K-8 | 358 | 14.9 |
| Blackstone Valley Prep Jr High (charter) | 7-8 | 326 | 11.2 |
| Raices Dual Language Academy | PK-5 | 225 | 12.5 |
| G. Harold Hunt School | PK-PK | 169 | 14.1 |
| Raices Upper Dual Language Acd | 6-8 | 61 | 20.3 |
Towns near Central Falls
- Pawtucket, RI1.5 mi · 75,604 people · home $325,500
- Valley Falls, RI2.3 mi · 12,094 people · home $375,200
- North Seekonk, MA3.3 mi · 2,726 people · home $436,700
- Lincoln, RI3.4 mi · 22,529 people · home $450,600
- North Providence, RI3.8 mi · 34,114 people · home $355,900
- Providence, RI4.8 mi · 190,934 people · home $362,200
- Seekonk, MA5.2 mi · 15,531 people · home $482,800
- Cumberland, RI5.5 mi · 36,405 people · home $431,000
Central Falls questions
Is Central Falls, Rhode Island a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Central Falls scores better for retirees than 0% of Rhode Island towns and quieter than 0%. 10.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.5).
How much does a house cost in Central Falls?
The median owner-occupied home in Central Falls is valued at $352,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,285, so homes cost about 7.1 times income. Median rent is $1,200 a month.
What is the weather like in Central Falls?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 18.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.9 inches of precipitation a year and 41.5 inches of snow.
Does Central Falls get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central Falls since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 18, 2023. The typical Rhode Island town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)