Compare towns

Blackstone vs Exeter 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

Blackstone has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
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.

MeasureBlackstoneExeterWoonsocket
People
Population
9,255
7,195Lowest
43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±1.7Highest
11% above U.S.
37.7±5.9
3% below U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
Blackstone and Exeter 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%
19.7%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Blackstone 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%
18.2%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Blackstone and Exeter 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%
46.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
11.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter 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.
$111,250±$30kHighest
38% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
Exeter and Blackstone 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.
$509,200±$43kHighest
53% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,189±$85
16% below U.S.
$1,317±$307Highest
7% below U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
Exeter and Blackstone 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.
$5,881Highest
89% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65%±18.3
U.S.: 51.1%
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
22 minLowest
15% below U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Blackstone and Exeter 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 #14 of 38 in RI #37 of 38 in RI
School district Blackstone-Millville Exeter-West Greenwich RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town Blackstone Millville RHS None in town Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.6Lowest
—
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.