Providence vs Pawtucket
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $325,500 in Pawtucket and $362,200 in Providence.
Side by side
| Providence, RI | Pawtucket, RI | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 195,310 | 77,065 |
| Growth since 2020 | +2.3% | +1.9% |
| People per square mile | 10,611 | 8,892 |
| Median age | 32.8 | 37.1 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35% | 22% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $68,119 | $68,310 |
| Median home value | $362,200 | $325,500 |
| Home value to income | 5.3× | 4.8× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,408 | $1,208 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 101.8 | 101.8 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 103.9 | 103.9 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $76,300 | $76,300 |
| Homeowners | 41% | 50% |
| Top state income tax | 5.99% | 5.99% |
| Combined sales tax | 7% | 7% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 25.0 | 25.6 |
| Work from home | 14% | 9% |
| Take public transit | 4% | 3% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 8.2% | 7.3% |
| Poverty rate | 20.7% | 13.3% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 38° / 22° | 38° / 22° |
| July high / low | 84° / 65° | 84° / 65° |
| Precipitation per year | 48 in | 48 in |
| Snowfall per year | 37 in | 37 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 12 | 12 |
| Nights below freezing | 109 | 109 |
| Comfortable months | 6 | 6 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 93.7 | 93.7 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 70% | 70% |
| Home prices, past year | +4.7% | +4.7% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +51.9% | +51.9% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Providence: May to October. Pawtucket: May to October.
Full monthly tables: Providence weather by month and Pawtucket weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $76,300 in Providence and $76,300 in Pawtucket. Moving from Providence to Pawtucket, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.