Compare towns

Blackstone vs Sprague 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%).
Sprague has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
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.

MeasureBlackstoneSpragueWoonsocket
People
Population
9,255
2,962Lowest
43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±1.7
11% above U.S.
48.5±10.7Highest
25% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
Sprague 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%
17.1%±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%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sprague 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.6%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
0.6%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,191±$21kHighest
17% above U.S.
$92,850±$11k
15% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
Blackstone and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$404,400±$34kHighest
22% above U.S.
$273,500±$17kLowest
18% below U.S.
$311,000±$15k
7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,189±$85
16% below U.S.
$1,247±$144Highest
12% below U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
Sprague and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,703Highest
83% above U.S.
$4,668
50% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65%±18.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
26.9%±12.2Lowest
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%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Highest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1959
21 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #207 of 282 in MA #141 of 149 in CT #37 of 38 in RI
School district Blackstone-Millville Sprague School District 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.