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Pawtucket, Rhode Island Demographics & Population 2026

4th Largest4th most populous city in Rhode Island

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Pawtucket, Rhode Island had a total population of 75,893, the 4th largest city in Rhode Island, with a median household income of $68,310, which is 22% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 13.3%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Pawtucket Quick Facts

Population 75,893
Median Household Income $68,310
Median Home Value $325,500
Poverty Rate 13.3%
Unemployment Rate 7.3%
Median Age 37.1 years
Homeownership Rate 50.1%
Affordability Ratio 4.8x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 22.2%
High School Graduation Rate 82.4%
Diversity Index 69/100
Population 75,893 4th of 36
Median Income $68,310 bottom 20%
Poverty Rate 13.3% 7% higher than national
Median Home Value $325,500 bottom 10%

How Pawtucket Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population75,28075,893+0.8%
Median household income$67,436$68,310+1.3%
Median home value$286,200$325,500+13.7%

How Pawtucket Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 18.1%
$25K-$50K 19.2%
$50K-$100K 29.9%
$100K+ 32.8%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
4.3%
$10K-$15K
6.1%
$15K-$20K
4.5%
$20K-$25K
3.3%
$25K-$30K
3.3%
$30K-$35K
4.9%
$35K-$40K
2.5%
$40K-$45K
4.5%
$45K-$50K
4.0%
$50K-$60K
7.2%
$60K-$75K
8.8%
$75K-$100K
13.8%
$100K-$125K
13.1%
$125K-$150K
6.7%
$150K-$200K
7.2%
$200K+
5.7%

Employment

7.3% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%
70.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 50.1%
Renter 49.9%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.8x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,208/mo 21.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

69out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 50 | National average: 61

Education

Pawtucket Rankings in Rhode Island

#4 Population of 36
#30 Median Income of 35
#30 Education of 36
#32 Home Value of 35

Other Cities in Providence County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Providence 191,767 $68,119 20.7% $362,200
Cranston 83,250 $90,206 10.2% $378,300
East Providence 47,281 $75,912 10.1% $365,500
Woonsocket 43,521 $61,059 18.7% $311,000
Central Falls 22,701 $49,285 24.6% $352,100
Valley Falls 12,657 $92,901 4.1% $375,200
Cumberland Hill 8,648 $130,506 4.7% $394,300
Greenville 8,296 $97,234 4.8% $434,700
Pascoag 4,410 $121,369 11.4% $365,000
Chepachet 1,923 $92,971 3.5% $279,400

Cities Similar to Pawtucket

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Warwick83,175$88,708$354,60033.7%7.6%
Cranston83,250$90,206$378,30036.4%10.2%
East Providence47,281$75,912$365,50031.6%10.1%
Woonsocket43,521$61,059$311,00019.8%18.7%
Providence191,767$68,119$362,20034.6%20.7%

Population Overview

Pawtucket is a mid-sized community located in Rhode Island, within Providence County. The total population is 75,893. It ranks as the 4th most populous out of 36 Census-designated places in Rhode Island.

Age Demographics

The median age in Pawtucket is 37.1 years. This is 9% lower than the state median of 40.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Pawtucket is $68,310. This is 22% lower than the state median of $87,796. It is also 15% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.3%. This is 19% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.2%. The unemployment rate is 7.3%. This is 26% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $325,500. Housing costs are 19% lower than the state median of $404,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.8x. 50.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% lower than the state average of 63.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Pawtucket is White (non-Hispanic), making up 46.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 26.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (11.0% vs 4.9%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (26.8% vs 17.7%). The Asian population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 3.5%.

Education

22.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 41% lower than the state rate of 37.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Pawtucket, Rhode Island is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Rhode Island state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 36 Census-designated places in Rhode Island. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

Free data download: Get all Rhode Island city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Pawtucket, Rhode Island?

Pawtucket, Rhode Island has a population of 75,893 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Pawtucket, RI?

The median household income in Pawtucket is $68,310, which is 15% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Pawtucket, RI?

The poverty rate in Pawtucket is 13.3%. This means approximately 10,013 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Pawtucket, Rhode Island?

Pawtucket's population is 46.3% White, 11.0% Black, 26.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.2% Asian.

What is the median home value in Pawtucket, RI?

The median home value in Pawtucket is $325,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.8x.

How educated is Pawtucket, Rhode Island?

22.2% of adults (25+) in Pawtucket hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 7.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.