Compare towns
Barre vs West Warwick vs Woonsocket vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most people working from home (11.2%).
West Warwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Barre | West Warwick | Woonsocket | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
31,173 |
43,521Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
42.8±1.5 10% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Oakham and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Warwick and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$77,608±$7k 4% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Barre and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$330,800±$12k about the U.S. average |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,303±$74Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| West Warwick and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,962 59% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±7.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woonsocket and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
57% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barre and Oakham 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #33 of 38 in RI | #37 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Quabbin | West Warwick | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | West Warwick High School | Woonsocket High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
13.0 |
15.2Highest |
— |
| 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.