What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the most homeowners (75.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barre	Woonsocket
People
Population	5,572Lowest	43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S.	35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S.
	Barre and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Barre and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barre and Woonsocket 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.	$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S.	$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S.	$1,161±$48Highest 18% below U.S.
	Woonsocket and Barre 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.	$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Woonsocket and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Barre and Woonsocket 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	#37 of 38 in RI
School district	Quabbin	RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Lowest	15.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.