Compare towns
Blackstone vs Hardwick 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 most people working from home (17.4%).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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 | Hardwick | Woonsocket | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,255 |
2,684Lowest |
43,521Highest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
| Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5 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% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% 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% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick 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. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$108,933±$14kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Whitman 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. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703 83% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% 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. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older 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. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Blackstone and Whitman 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Quabbin | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | None in town | Woonsocket High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Lowest |
— | 15.2Highest |
— |
| 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.