Compare towns
Blackstone vs Exeter vs Woonsocket vs Barre
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 most people working from home (17.4%).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Barre has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
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 | Exeter | Woonsocket | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,255 |
7,195 |
43,521Highest |
5,572Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9 3% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Barre 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% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre 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% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% 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% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Barre 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. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Barre 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. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% 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. |
$5,163 66% 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%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest 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% |
8.2% 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% |
75.8% 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. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% 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% |
11.2%±4.6 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 | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Exeter-West Greenwich | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | None in town | Woonsocket High School | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
— | 15.2Highest |
12.9Lowest |
| 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.