What are the schools like in Pawtucket, RI?

Pawtucket is served primarily by Pawtucket. The district operates 10 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.5:1.

What is the median household income in Pawtucket?

The median household income in Pawtucket, RI is $62,799 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.7%.

What is the weather like in Pawtucket, RI?

Pawtucket 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.

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

Q: Is Pawtucket, RI affordable or expensive?

Pawtucket's cost of living index is 101, where 100 represents the national average. This means Pawtucket is 1% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $266,300 and the median rent is $1,081 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Pawtucket, RI?

Pawtucket has a violent crime rate of 307.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1511.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Pawtucket, RI a Good Place to Live?

Pawtucket is a mid-sized city of 75,176 in Rhode Island, with a median household income of $62,799 and a 6.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 101 (US average = 100), which is 1% above the national average.

Strengths: Pawtucket stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).

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

All Pawtucket 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

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

Metric	Pawtucket, RI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$266,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,081	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	48.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$62,799	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Pawtucket's violent crime rate is 307.6 per 100,000 residents — 19% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

307.6 /100k

Property Crime

1511.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Pawtucket is served primarily by Pawtucket. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Pawtucket, RI	National Avg
School District	Pawtucket	—
Elementary Schools	10	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	81.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

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

Demographics

Metric	Pawtucket, RI	National Avg
Population	75,176	—
Median Age	37.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	53.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	16.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	24.0%	18.9%
Asian	1.2%	6.3%
Under 18	21.3%	22.2%
65 and over	13.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Central Falls, RI 1 mi North Seekonk, MA 2 mi Valley Falls, RI 3 mi Providence, RI 4 mi East Providence, RI 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Pawtucket

Pawtucket, RI is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

02860 02861

Pawtucket vs Other Cities

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pawtucket, RI affordable or expensive?

Pawtucket's cost of living index is 101, where 100 is the national average. That puts Pawtucket roughly 1% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $266,300 and median rent is $1,081/month.

What is the crime rate in Pawtucket, RI?

Pawtucket's violent crime rate is 307.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1511.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Pawtucket?

Public schools in Pawtucket are operated by Pawtucket. The district has 10 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1. 21.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Pawtucket, RI a good place to live?

Pawtucket, RI has a population of 75,176, a median household income of $62,799, and an unemployment rate of 6.7%. 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 Pawtucket?

Pawtucket 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 Pawtucket?

Pawtucket, RI is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 02860, 02861.

What is the population of Pawtucket?

The population of Pawtucket, Rhode Island is 75,176 with a median age of 37.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Pawtucket?

Key numbers for living in Pawtucket: cost of living index 101 (100 = US average), median home $266,300, median household income $62,799, crime index 77 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Pawtucket side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.