Compare towns

Blackstone vs Dedham vs Woonsocket vs Bellingham

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Bellingham has the most homeowners (78.9%).

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.

MeasureBlackstoneDedhamWoonsocketBellingham
People
Population
9,255Lowest
25,237
43,521Highest
17,410
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±1.7
11% above U.S.
44.6±1.6Highest
15% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
38.2±1.5
about the U.S. average
Dedham and Blackstone 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%
18.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.1%±3.4
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+
18.5%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.9%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Dedham and Blackstone 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%
55%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Dedham 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.
$128,955±$10kHighest
60% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$125,307±$10k
55% above U.S.
Dedham and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$404,400±$34k
22% above U.S.
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$450,700±$13k
35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,189±$85
16% below U.S.
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,836±$196
30% above U.S.
Dedham and Bellingham 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.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$5,030
61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65%±18.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
62.8%±16.6
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
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1956
24 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
28% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.3%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Dedham and Bellingham 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 #119 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI #232 of 282 in MA
School district Blackstone-Millville Dedham RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Bellingham
High school in town Blackstone Millville RHS Dedham High Woonsocket High School Bellingham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.6
10.4Lowest
15.2Highest
12.4
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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.