Compare towns

Blackstone vs Killingly 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%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).

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.

MeasureBlackstoneKillinglyWoonsocketBarre
People
Population
9,255
17,867
43,521Highest
5,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%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.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
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%
19.8%±2.3
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%
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±5.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Barre 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%
22.9%
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%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,191±$21k
17% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$107,727±$13kHighest
33% above U.S.
Barre 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±$34kHighest
22% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$311,000±$15k
7% below U.S.
$394,300±$55k
19% above U.S.
Blackstone and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,189±$85Highest
16% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
$1,030±$713Lowest
27% below U.S.
Blackstone and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,703Highest
83% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$3,960
27% above U.S.
$5,163
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65%±18.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
38.2%±27.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Blackstone and Woonsocket 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%
11.4%
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%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
28% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above 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%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.2%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Blackstone and Barre 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 #136 of 149 in CT #37 of 38 in RI #134 of 282 in MA
School district Blackstone-Millville Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Quabbin
High school in town Blackstone Millville RHS Killingly High School Woonsocket High School Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.6
11.1Lowest
15.2Highest
12.9
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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.