Compare towns

Blackstone vs Lawrence 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 most people working from home (17.4%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k 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.

MeasureBlackstoneLawrenceWoonsocket
People
Population
9,255Lowest
88,736Highest
43,521
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±1.7Highest
11% above U.S.
32.6±0.9Lowest
16% below U.S.
35.7±1.3
8% below U.S.
Kids under 18
21.8%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.3%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2
U.S.: 22%
Lawrence and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
10.5%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Blackstone and Woonsocket 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%
16.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Lawrence 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±$21kHighest
17% above U.S.
$60,433±$3kLowest
25% below U.S.
$61,059±$5k
24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$404,400±$34k
22% above U.S.
$415,200±$23kHighest
25% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
Lawrence and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,189±$85
16% below U.S.
$1,662±$50Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,703Highest
83% above U.S.
$3,422Lowest
10% above U.S.
$3,960
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65%±18.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
60.6%±3.6
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Blackstone and Lawrence 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%
17.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
28.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Highest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1950Lowest
30 yrs older than U.S.
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.8%±1.2
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 #278 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI
School district Blackstone-Millville Lawrence RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town Blackstone Millville RHS Lawrence High School Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.6Lowest
13.6Lowest
15.2Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.