Compare towns

Bellingham 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

Bellingham has the highest household income ($125k).
Blackstone has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).

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.

MeasureBellinghamBlackstoneWoonsocket
People
Population
17,410
9,255Lowest
43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.2±1.5
about the U.S. average
43.2±1.7Highest
11% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
Kids under 18
22.1%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.9%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Blackstone and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,307±$10kHighest
55% above U.S.
$94,191±$21k
17% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
Bellingham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$450,700±$13kHighest
35% above U.S.
$404,400±$34k
22% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
Bellingham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,836±$196Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,189±$85
16% below U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,030
61% above U.S.
$5,703Highest
83% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.8%±16.6
U.S.: 51.1%
65%±18.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Blackstone and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
34 min
28% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
18.3%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bellingham 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 #232 of 282 in MA #207 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI
School district Bellingham Blackstone-Millville RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town Bellingham High School Blackstone Millville RHS Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.4Lowest
13.6
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.