Compare towns

Blackstone vs Pepperell 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).
Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).

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.

MeasureBlackstonePepperellWoonsocket
People
Population
9,255Lowest
11,663
43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±1.7Highest
11% above U.S.
42.4±3.3
9% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
Blackstone and Pepperell 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%
20.1%±3.3Lowest
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%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Blackstone and Pepperell 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%
43.8%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%
5.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Pepperell 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.
$124,073±$12kHighest
54% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
Pepperell 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.
$482,100±$14kHighest
45% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,189±$85
16% below U.S.
$1,295±$238Highest
8% below U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
Pepperell and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,703
83% above U.S.
$6,698Highest
115% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65%±18.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
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%
8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
34 min
28% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pepperell and Blackstone 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 #153 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI
School district Blackstone-Millville North Middlesex 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.