Compare towns
Ayer vs Woonsocket vs Abington vs Blackstone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Abington has the highest household income ($125k).
Blackstone has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Ayer | Woonsocket | Abington | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
43,521Highest |
17,053 |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
39.1±1.8 about the U.S. average |
43.2±1.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Blackstone and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Blackstone and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$125,400±$12kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
| Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$539,600±$34kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,724±$250Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
| Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$7,045Highest 126% above U.S. |
$5,703 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Blackstone 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #143 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Abington | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Woonsocket High School | Abington High | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
15.2Highest |
11.3Lowest |
13.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.