What stands out worked out from the figures below

Blackstone has the most homeowners (73.2%).

Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Blackstone	Providence
People
Population	9,255Lowest	191,767Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±1.7Highest 11% above U.S.	32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Blackstone and Providence 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%	11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,191±$21kHighest 17% above U.S.	$68,119±$3kLowest 16% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S.	$362,200±$8kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Blackstone and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,189±$85Lowest 16% below U.S.	$1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,703Highest 83% above U.S.	$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Blackstone and Providence 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%	20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Blackstone and Providence 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	#36 of 38 in RI
School district	Blackstone-Millville	MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative
High school in town	Blackstone Millville RHS	Classical High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Lowest	17.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.