Compare towns
Blackstone vs Thompson vs Woonsocket vs Bellingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Bellingham has the highest household income ($125k).
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 | Thompson | Woonsocket | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,255Lowest |
9,337 |
43,521Highest |
17,410 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
38.2±1.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Bellingham 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and Bellingham 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$125,307±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Bellingham 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$450,700±$13kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Bellingham 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. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,836±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$5,030 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.8%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Bellingham 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest 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% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bellingham 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #37 of 38 in RI | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Thompson School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Bellingham |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Woonsocket High School | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
7.9Lowest |
15.2Highest |
12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.