Compare towns
Blackstone vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,255 |
8,606Lowest |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Blackstone and Lancaster 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%±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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
50.3%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% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and Lancaster 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% 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. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703 83% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% 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% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest 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. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 min 20% 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% |
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 | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Nashoba | 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.