Compare towns
Athol vs Blackstone vs Woonsocket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most affordable homes ($249k median).
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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.
| Measure | Athol | Blackstone | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801Lowest |
9,255 |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3 5% below U.S. |
43.2±1.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Blackstone and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,394±$8k 17% below U.S. |
$94,191±$21kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Blackstone and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
| Blackstone and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,170Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Blackstone and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | — | Blackstone-Millville | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Millville RHS | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Lowest |
15.2Highest |
| 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.