Compare towns
Blackstone vs Bow vs Woonsocket vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Blackstone has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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.
| Measure | Blackstone | Bow | Woonsocket | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,255 |
8,335Lowest |
43,521Highest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
| Blackstone and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Blackstone and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$108,933±$14k 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
| Bow and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703 83% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #207 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #37 of 38 in RI | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Bow School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Bow High School | Woonsocket High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
12.8Lowest |
15.2Highest |
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| 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.