Compare towns

Berlin vs Woonsocket vs Boylston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Boylston has the highest household income ($141k).

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.

MeasureBerlinWoonsocketBoylston
People
Population
3,378Lowest
43,521Highest
4,948
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.7±2.8Highest
28% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
48.2±2.3
24% above U.S.
Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.4%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.1%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$121,336±$12k
50% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$140,962±$28kHighest
75% above U.S.
Boylston and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$616,600±$55kHighest
85% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$578,600±$47k
74% above U.S.
Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,420±$933Highest
71% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
$2,032±$350
44% above U.S.
Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,116
128% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$7,266Highest
133% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.6%±19.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Berlin and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
29% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
29.1%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Berlin and Boylston 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 #61 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI #72 of 282 in MA
School district Berlin-Boylston RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Berlin-Boylston
High school in town None in town Woonsocket High School Tahanto Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school —
15.2Highest
11.1Lowest
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.