Compare towns

Ashford vs Woonsocket vs Franklin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureAshfordWoonsocketFranklin
People
Population
4,226
43,521Highest
2,004Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
37.9±10.3
about the U.S. average
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
40.3±4.3Highest
4% above U.S.
Franklin and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.5%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2
U.S.: 22%
27.2%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Franklin and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.9%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Ashford and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$121,926±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$105,000±$10k
30% above U.S.
Ashford and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$334,800±$18kHighest
about the U.S. average
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$326,200±$20k
about the U.S. average
Ashford and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,246±$208Highest
12% below U.S.
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
$767±$529Lowest
46% below U.S.
Ashford and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,982Highest
124% above U.S.
$3,960
27% above U.S.
$3,934Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47%±26Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
19.5%±18.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ashford and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
27 minLowest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.8%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #90 of 149 in CT #37 of 38 in RI —
School district Ashford School District RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Franklin School District
High school in town None in town Woonsocket High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
15.2
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.