Is Central Falls a Good Place to Live? Pros & Cons + Poll 

Motivated by Rhode Island’s culture and way of life, many people are now wondering if Central Falls is a good place to live.  

Since we have been providing Rhode Island with affordable storage solutions for some time, we thought we could share some insight into the area’s many characteristics. Hopefully, this insight will help prospective residents make an informed decision regarding their move.  

Starting out, we’ll look at Central Falls in a snapshot. Next, we will explore the history of Central Falls, and later, we’ll take a deep dive into the city’s cost of living and crime rating. We’ll round all of this out by consulting actual Central Falls residents.  

Without further ado, Central Falls. 

Central Falls, RI, in a Snapshot 

Central Falls is a city located in eastern Rhode Island, 7 miles north of Providence and 24 miles east of Glocester. The city is also within a two-hour drive of several major cities including Boston, MA; Hartford, CT; and New Haven, CT. Central Falls is best known for its historic significance as it was the site of a major battle during King Phillip’s War, which occurred in 1676.  

The following table looks at several statistics that measure Central Falls’ population, area, elevation and more.  

Central Falls, RI	Figures
Population (2010)	19,376
Population (2020)	22,583
Area (sq. mi.)	1.27
Land Area (sq. mi.)	1.19
Water Area (sq. mi.)	0.08
Elevation (ft.)	89
Time Zone	UTC-5 (Eastern Standard Time)

*Data collected from Census.gov 

The History of Central Falls, RI 

The history of Central Falls is rooted in several conflicts including “Nine Men’s Misery.” This conflict occurred when Captain Michael Pierce and the Plymouth troops were ambushed by the Narragansett tribe in 1676. During the conflict, the Narragansett tribe took nine men as prisoner and later tortured them before their death in Cumberland, Rhode Island.  

However, the story of modern-day Central Falls started in the 18^th century when Capt. Stephen Jenks built a small blacksmith shop on the banks of the Blackstone River. This blacksmith shop attracted other individuals and eventually became the hub of a small community. This community supported several other businesses including a chocolate maker that inspired the community’s first name: Chocolateville.  

Today, Central Falls supports a suburban mix of families and young professionals. Some residents commute to nearby Providence for work. Most residents in Central Falls rent their homes.  

Is Central Falls, RI, a Safe Place to Live?  

According to AreaVibes.com, Central Falls is a relatively safe place to live. The city’s overall crime grade is a C-, while the city’s total crime rate and property crime rate are both lower than the national average. Violent crimes are 18% more likely to occur in Central Falls than other cities around the United States.  

The table included below compares the crime rate of Central Falls to the crime rate of several other cities. Each of these cities also have comparable population sizes.  

City	State	Crimes Per 100k People
Mill Creek	WA	1,711
East Northport	NY	1,132
Pickerington	OH	968
Old Jamestown	MO	2,499
Central Falls	RI	1,710

*Data sourced from AreaVibes.com 

Is it Expensive to live in Central Falls?  

A study conducted by BestPlaces.net found that the cost of living in Central Falls is 4.5% higher than the United States average. Although, the study also found that the cost of living in Central Falls is 6.1% lower than the average cost of living in Rhode Island.  

The table below looks at the cost of living in Central Falls and compares it to the cost of living in several cities with comparable populations.  

City	State	Cost of Living*
Mill Creek	WA	152.9
East Northport	NY	143.7
Pickerington	OH	101.5
Old Jamestown	MO	91.6
Central Falls	RI	104.5

*Data sourced from BestPlaces.net 

Health and housing costs in Central Falls were also significantly lower than the United States averages. Miscellaneous, transportation and utility costs were the most expensive costs in Central Falls. Miscellaneous costs in Central Falls were estimated to be 24.7% higher than miscellaneous costs around the nation, while transportation costs were estimated to be 15.5% higher.  

What are the Pros of Living in Central Falls 

Living in Central Falls presents a variety of benefits.  

First, by living in Central Falls, residents will be able to access an endless array of attractions within a short drive. The city is not only close to Boston, MA and other major cities, but Central Falls is also located near several outdoor recreation sites.  Lincoln Woods State Park, Snake Den State Park and River Island Park are a few of the popular parks in the Central Falls area.  

Second, Central Falls is also a very diverse city. It was even ranked as the 4^th most diverse suburb in Rhode Island by Niche.com. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Central Falls was the only majority-minority area in Rhode Island. In this report, 60.31 percent of residents in Central Falls identified as Hispanic or Latino. The largest groups within this percentage were Puerto Ricans, Guatemalans and Colombians.  

Finally, Central Falls is a hotspot for food and culinary experiences. Popular food types in the city include everything from American to Colombian, El Salvadorian and Mexican cuisines.  

What are the Cons of Living in Central Falls 

The largest con of life in Central Falls is the area’s higher than average cost of living. Central Falls is 4.5% more expensive when compared to the average cost of living in the United States. However, when compared to Rhode Island as a whole, Central Falls is relatively affordable.  

Housing costs in Central Falls are also significantly less expensive than the average costs in Rhode Island. The median home cost in the United States is $291,700, while the median in Rhode Island is $375,800 and the median in Central Falls is $253,900.  

Crime is also commonly cited as a con of living in Central Falls. By living in Central Falls, you have a 1 in 59 chance of becoming a victim of a crime. Although, year over year crime in the city has decreased by 10%. This statistic shows that crime is still a problem in Central Falls, but things are improving.  

Do people like living in Central Falls, RI? 

Life in Central Falls comes with its own list of pros and cons. However, before making a decision to move to the area, you should also learn how actual Central Falls residents feel about their city. The following reviews were taken from residents who ranked their city using Niche.com.  

• The city has improved over the last decade with the mayor being a huge reason for its improvement. The streets are kept clean, and the roads are maintained. Different community events are constantly happening. Overall, it’s a great town. 

• I’ve lived here for the past ten years and have met a lot of kind and wonderful people. I love how diverse it is and how everyone knows one another. 

• Central Falls is as small as it gets but bold with the diversity and endless amounts of ethnic food around. The community is fairly tight knit, but there is always room for improvement with construction around the city. 

Moving to Rhode Island  

Ready to move to Rhode Island? If so, continue to keep us in mind for all your storage needs.  

Store Space offers affordable storage solutions throughout Rhode Island and elsewhere across the United States. Better yet, getting started renting with us is as easy as completing a Touchless Rental online or over the phone.  

If you are looking for secure and affordable storage elsewhere in the country, use our storage finder to locate the Store Space facility nearest to you.