Compare towns
Blackstone vs Lancaster vs Barre 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
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Barre has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Lancaster | Barre | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,255 |
8,606 |
5,572Lowest |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre 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. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703 83% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Blackstone 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #207 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Nashoba | Quabbin | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
— | 12.9Lowest |
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.