What are the schools like in Central Falls, RI?

Central Falls is served primarily by Central Falls. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.3:1.

What is the median household income in Central Falls?

The median household income in Central Falls, RI is $43,092 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.3%.

What is the weather like in Central Falls, RI?

Central Falls has an average high temperature of 37.8°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 50.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 41.5 inches.

Central Falls, RI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Central Falls, RI affordable or expensive?

Central Falls's cost of living index is 101, where 100 represents the national average. This means Central Falls is 1% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $244,100 and the median rent is $1,052 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Central Falls, RI?

Central Falls has a violent crime rate of 323.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1005.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Central Falls, RI a Good Place to Live?

Central Falls is a small city of 22,359 in Rhode Island, with a median household income of $43,092 and a 8.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 101 (US average = 100), which is 1% above the national average.

Strengths: Central Falls stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Central Falls is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Central Falls city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 100.9

Central Falls's overall cost of living index is 100.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Central Falls costs roughly 1% more than the average American city.

Metric	Central Falls, RI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$244,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,052	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	26.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$43,092	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Central Falls's violent crime rate is 323.4 per 100,000 residents — 15% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

323.4 /100k

Property Crime

1005.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Central Falls is served primarily by Central Falls. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Central Falls, RI	National Avg
School District	Central Falls	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	9.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	63.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Central Falls sees average highs of 37.8°F in January and 84.0°F in July, with 50.6 inches of annual precipitation and 41.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Central Falls, RI
Average High — January	37.8°F
Average High — July	84.0°F
Annual Precipitation	50.6"
Annual Snowfall	41.5"

Demographics

Metric	Central Falls, RI	National Avg
Population	22,359	—
Median Age	31.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	32.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	8.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	56.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	28.2%	22.2%
65 and over	8.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Pawtucket, RI 1 mi Valley Falls, RI 2 mi North Seekonk, MA 3 mi Providence, RI 5 mi Attleboro, MA 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Central Falls

Central Falls, RI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

02863

Central Falls vs Other Cities

Central Falls, RI vs Pawtucket, RI Central Falls, RI vs Valley Falls, RI Central Falls, RI vs North Seekonk, MA Central Falls, RI vs Providence, RI Central Falls, RI vs Attleboro, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Central Falls, RI affordable or expensive?

Central Falls's cost of living index is 101, where 100 is the national average. That puts Central Falls roughly 1% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $244,100 and median rent is $1,052/month.

What is the crime rate in Central Falls, RI?

Central Falls's violent crime rate is 323.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1005.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Central Falls?

Public schools in Central Falls are operated by Central Falls. The district has 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1. 9.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Central Falls, RI a good place to live?

Central Falls, RI has a population of 22,359, a median household income of $43,092, and an unemployment rate of 8.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Central Falls?

Central Falls averages 37.8°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.6 inches with about 41.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Central Falls?

Central Falls, RI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 02863.

What is the population of Central Falls?

The population of Central Falls, Rhode Island is 22,359 with a median age of 31.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Central Falls?

Key numbers for living in Central Falls: cost of living index 101 (100 = US average), median home $244,100, median household income $43,092, crime index 70 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Central Falls side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.