Compare towns
Athol vs Pawtucket vs Woonsocket vs Webster
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).
Pawtucket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Webster has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
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 | Pawtucket | Woonsocket | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,801Lowest |
75,893Highest |
43,521 |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3 5% below U.S. |
37.1±0.8 5% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
39.9±2.9Highest about the U.S. average |
| Webster and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest 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% |
14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Pawtucket 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. |
$68,310±$4k 15% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Webster and Pawtucket 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. |
$325,500±$8k about the U.S. average |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,208±$39 15% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Webster and Pawtucket 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 |
$4,115Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Woonsocket 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% |
13.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athol and Pawtucket 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 | #35 of 38 in RI | #37 of 38 in RI | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Webster |
| High school in town | — | William E. Tolman High | Woonsocket High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
15.2Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.